SALMOND TO TAKE PART IN SKY ELECTION DEBATE

SALMOND TO TAKE PART IN SKY ELECTION DEBATE

PLATFORM TO TAKE ANTI-CUTS MESSAGE TO WHOLE OF UK

SNP leader and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond today (Fri) confirmed that he will be taking part in Sky TV's Scottish election debate in Edinburgh on April 25th.

On a visit to Sky's call centre in Livingston with the SNP's election candidate for the local constituency, Lis Bardell, and local SNP MSP Angela Constance, Mr Salmond revealed that he will participate in the 90-minute Sunday morning debate, while the party's Westminster leader Angus Robertson will take part in the Scottish debates hosted by BBC Scotland and STV.

Mr Salmond said: "Scotland has been largely cut out of the picture when it comes to these election debates, and Scots viewers are being denied a fair reflection of the major issues - but Sky have been the most accommodating of all the broadcasters and have shown themseles willing to engage with the SNP from the start.

"That is in stark contrast to the attitude of the other main broadcasters, who have colluded in a carve-up with the London parties to shut Scotland and Wales out of the leaders' debates."

Mr Salmond added: "Sky's Scottish debate - unlike those of the other networks - is being broadcast across the whole of the UK and as such has been given a proper billing, allowing viewers everywhere to hear a real alternative to the phoney war of the London parties.

"I'm delighted to be taking part in Sky's Scottish election debate, where I will be taking the SNP's message offering voters an alternative to the cuts agenda of the Tories and Labour. Only the election of the SNP's local and national champions will help protect vital Scottish public services from those savage London cuts."

SNP candidate in Livingston Lis Bardell said:

“I’m working hard to be a local champion for people in Livingston, like those working here at Sky. The voters of Livingston have been left without a real champion at home and in Westminster for too long.

“Over the last few years Labour have simply failed this constituency and with their plans for tougher and deeper cuts they are continuing to let the people of Livingston down.

“Voters in Livingston elected a local champion in 2007 with Angela Constance and I will be working hard to win their support in the coming weeks to be their local champion.”