AN SNP MSP has said he will challenge the BBC over the trans rights debate on Thursday’s Question Time after it was accused of broadcasting “vile hate speech”.
It comes after Ryan McNaughton, an activist with the Scottish Greens, wrote to parliamentarians asking them to intervene following the BBC show and raised concerns about the tone of the debate.
Guest India Willoughby (below), a trans woman, said she felt as if she were at her own “hanging” after appearing on the broadcast. She further said she felt “deeply sad” about what she termed a display of “Frankenstein mob mentality”.
On Friday, the BBC refused to address issues raised by a false statement on trans prisoners in Scotland from its host Fiona Bruce, which came in a question directed at Willoughby.
McNaughton told The National: “It was particularly the direct attacks that India Willoughby was forced to face, comments such as ‘you are a man’, and the affirming of sex as a biological characteristic.
“On what is supposed to be an unbiased, honest, and across-the-board look at what’s going on, for so much of it to be taken up by anti-trans dogma, that to me was of massive concern. I don’t ever believe the BBC should be broadcasting any form of what I would refer to as hate speech.”
He added: “The BBC broadcast, on four separate occasions, focused on Ella [Whelan], who is known as an anti-trans campaigner, while India was speaking. They focused on her reactions.
“To me, the constant focus on the nastier side of the debate, to be honest it made me feel sick.”
McNaughton pointed to an article, published in The National and written by a member of the Question Time audience, which described the atmosphere as poisonous.
This is the reason why I wrote to my MSPs last night. This vile hate speech should never have been broadcast. MPs and MSPs must take action on this. As an elected representitive, it is entirely right for you to call out this bigitory on our airways. https://t.co/y7q3RmRdKF
— Ryan 🏴🏳️🌈🌍🏳️⚧️ (@TheOneCalledMe) February 3, 2023
On Twitter, he wrote: “This is the reason why I wrote to my MSPs last night. This vile hate speech should never have been broadcast.
“MPs and MSPs must take action on this. As an elected representative, it is entirely right for you to call out this bigotry on our airways.”
SNP MSP Paul McLennan responded to the post, saying he would raise the issue with the BBC.
The MSP then told The National he would be specifically raising the issues of the wellbeing of the participants on the panel, whether the broadcaster believed the Question Time broadcast to have been neutral in tone, and how the audience had been selected.
He explained: "Following the latest Question Time, I am planning to write to the BBC asking how they select their audience; whether they thought the tone of the debate was impartial and do they care about the well-being of panelists. We need a balanced fact-based discussion."
Tory MSP Jamie Greene also replied to McNaughton via email, saying he would watch the broadcast and contact the BBC and Ofcom if he felt the issues he had raised had merit.
The Conservative parliamentarian said he was growing “increasingly concerned” about the rhetoric surrounding trans people, saying they had been “vilified” throughout the gender reform debate.
In an email seen by The National, Greene – who supported Holyrood’s Gender Recognition Reform Bill – wrote: “I haven't seen the show yet due to prior engagements. I'll be sure to watch it and take note of your [McNaughton’s] comments.
“I'd also strongly advise you to contact the BBC and if necessary Ofcom if you believe standards have been breached. If I feel the same, I will do the same.”
He went on: “I spent 12 years in television licensing and regulation so it's an area I do feel strongly about, and I am increasingly concerned about the current narrative around trans people.
“As you may know I fully supported the recent legislation passed to reform gender recognition and am dismayed at the way trans people have been vilified throughout.”
McNaughton said of Greene’s comments: “This is particularly, to me, particularly poignant, from a Conservative MSP who supported the bill. To say he’s becoming concerned and dismayed about the portrayal and vilification of trans people.
“My response would be, although I very much appreciate the answer, you need to be publicly speaking out. Why won’t you challenge these things when they happen?”
The BBC has been approached for comment.
