THE broadcasting watchdog has dismissed a complaint by a Liberal Democrat MSP about the SNP’s party political broadcast screened earlier this year and said to poke fun at journalist David Torrance.
Set in a house party, and based on a scene in Monty Python’s Life of Brian, the video features a man called Davey who can’t stop banging on about the failings of the SNP government to other guests.
Lib-Dem Alex Cole-Hamilton took issue with the film, reporting it to Ofcom accusing it of mocking the Herald columnist and political commentator Torrance – whose physical appearance is similar to the Davey character.
READ MORE: Disgraced MSP Mark McDonald may face pay docking and Holyrood ban
But yesterday the regulator found there was no substance to the Edinburgh MSP’s complaint. An email from Ofcom seen by The National said: “I can confirm that this complaint was carefully assessed, but was not pursued. A letter detailing our full reasoning was sent to the complainant to explain our decision.”
A SNP spokesman said: “It’s good to see Alex Cole-Hamilton’s pathetic, juvenile, attention-seeking stunt was treated with the contempt it deserved and dismissed out of hand by Ofcom. Hopefully he’ll think twice about wasting the regulator’s time with such daft conspiracy theories in future.”
Cole-Hamilton announced on Twitter he had set down a motion in Holyrood criticising the broadcast and described the video as a “worrying, Trumpian challenge to press freedom”. He added that he had reported it to Ofcom.
But the Edinburgh MSP faced a large backlash of criticism, including from the SNP’s James Dornan, who pointed out that he had failed to sign a motion condemning the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Cole-Hamilton’s motion also criticised the SNP for misleading viewers by trying to take credit for the introduction of free personal care for the elderly. Others claimed the broadcast obviously pointed to the SNP continuing to provide the care despite budget pressure.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel