LEADERS' DEBATES - JUDICIAL REVIEW GOES AHEAD

LEADERS' DEBATES - JUDICIAL REVIEW GOES AHEAD

SNP WILL NOW TAKE CASE TO THE PEOPLE

Following the outcome today (Wed) of the SNP's petition at the Court of
Session, where the application for judicial review has proceeded, the
party's Depute leader and Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

"This is not the end of this case. Our application for judicial review of
the BBC's decision to exclude the SNP from this week's leaders' debate has
progressed and will be heard by the court at a later date - and that is
important, to ensure that the TV debates in this election campaign do not
set an undemocratic precedent.

"We were right to bring this case on grounds of basic fairness and
democracy, in terms of trying to ensure that the BBC met its duties of
impartiality. Scottish viewers will now be deprived of an alternative to
the cosy Westminster consensus of the London parties and their shared cuts
agenda.

"We will now take that message directly to the Scottish public in the
remaining days of the campaign. Where we may have been shut out of the air
war we will continue to work hard in the ground war at this election.
Around a million people in Scotland are expected to watch the BBC leaders'
debate - but we will deliver leaflets to just as many people with the
message that only SNP local and national champions will protect the
interests of their communities and Scotland as a whole."