SNP's public and media ban from hustings is 'anti-democratic'
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Fergus Ewing has lashed out at SNP bosses over a public and media ban on accessing hustings, labelling it as “anti-democratic” and “the worst decision HQ have taken.”
The Inverness and Nairn MSP was infuriated by the move as more and more party members, unable to get tickets to the Inverness event at Eden Court on Saturday, contact him.
The Inverness Courier offered to stage a Highland hustings at no cost to the party and but SNP bosses instead opted for the 250 seat capacity OneTouch Theatre despite the 830-seat Empire theatre being available.
The SNP’s national executive committee (NEC) is already backtracking a firestorm of criticism after its decision to hold leadership hustings in secret with just a few hundreds members at each.
Yesterday, a SNP NEC spokesperson claimed that it had "designed the party hustings as a safe place for members to ask questions of the three candidates.”
Then, led by Kate Forbes, all three candidates came out and said they have no problem with the media attending such events as the case is made that the SNP membership will not just choose a leader but the next First Minister.
Now the NEC is saying: “We are in discussion with media outlets making a request for access to our members' hustings event in Cumbernauld, and we’re already looking at ways to make content available to our wider membership for the remainder of this series of events.”
But that doesn’t wash with Mr Ewing, who said: “This is the worst decision HQ have taken. It is absurd to deny journalists, TV cameras and media from attending possibly the most important hustings event held in recent times in the Highlands.
“It is bad enough that the HQ team did not hire the Empire Theatre which would have the capacity to accommodate all interested in attending. Already. I have had members asking why they cannot get tickets.
“They want to see and hear the candidates but are being denied that chance. HQ did not even consult the local organisations – but just made this decision by dictat.
“But to prevent the press from attending is indefensible and sends an incredibly bad message about the approach HQ takes.”
He added that this was not just a Scottish National Party issue but a campaign of national significance: “We are not only electing an SNP leader but in all likelihood, the next First Minister of Scotland. I want the public to be able to attend and be heard with their voice and their questions.
"I know that Kate Forbes has spoken out strongly against this, as has Ash Regan. Humza Yousaf’s response was more muted, and I hope he finds the courage to speak out clearly and condemn this anti-democratic approach of excluding the press and media.”
