THE line-up for this week's edition of Debate Night – Scotland's 'Question Time' – has been revealed.
This might seem like an odd time to release those details, but that's because BBC bosses have shifted the show.
You will no longer find it in the regular slot of 10.45pm on Wednesday. Instead, Debate Night, hosted by Stephen Jardine, will air at 10pm on Sunday.
Slightly earlier, yes ... but also a bit of a graveyard slot, up against other news shows and Match of the Day.
Still, there's always iPlayer – and the line-up promises a voice for an independent Scotland.
We have:
- Lesley Riddoch, National columnist and award-winning journalist and broadcaster
- Robin McAlpine, director of the Common Weal think tank
- Michael Russell, SNP MSP, Brexit Secretary and Sunday National columnist
- Donald Cameron, Tory MSP and their spokesperson on the environment
- Lesley Laird, Labour MP and shadow Scottish secretary at Westminster
It's been a crucial week in the independence campaign, with the First Minister setting out her plan going forward. The BBC's Question Time won't have much to say about that, so this is a key test.
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
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