THE BBC’s flagship political debate programme, Question Time, returns tonight with a virtual audience based in Scotland.
The digital attendees are all located in North East Scotland. The last time the show featured a Scottish audience was October, when it was broadcast from “Edinburgh” with panel members including Douglas Ross and Kate Forbes.
Usually Question Time is broadcast from different locations across the UK and features a live audience made up of people from the area.
READ MORE: Political activists understand that Question Time is a parody
However, during the coronavirus pandemic the format has changed to feature a socially distanced panel and a smaller number of audience members who appear from their homes via video link.
Here’s who will be taking part in the programme at 10.45pm tonight:
Jeane Freeman: Health Secretary, SNP
The SNP’s @JeaneF1MSP is on #bbcqt tomorrow pic.twitter.com/0WduwoiJc5
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 10, 2021
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman is one of the five panellists tonight. The SNP MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley was elected in 2016 and will be standing down at the 2021 election.
Freeman was a founding member of Women for Independence and an active Yes campaigner in the run up to the 2014 referendum.
On tonight’s episode it is likely she will face questions from opposition politicians on the Scottish Government’s coronavirus vaccine roll-out. Yesterday was a landmark moment in the scheme with more than one million jags administered so far.
Michael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean: Former Scottish secretary, Conservative
Conservative @lord_forsyth is on the panel #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/eawmW4W5J0
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 10, 2021
Michael Forsyth, the former Tory MP for Stirling and Scottish secretary under John Major, will be participating in tonight’s panel.
A member of the House of Lords since 1999, financier Forsyth is the chairman of the house’s Economic Affairs Committee.
Forsyth is strongly anti-independence and campaigned against devolution in the 1997 referendum.
Ian Murray: Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary
Labour’s @IanMurrayMP joins us #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/1egSe55i2J
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 10, 2021
Ian Murray, Scotland’s last remaining Labour MP and the party’s shadow Scottish secretary, will also be on the panel.
The MP for Edinburgh South has recently backed Anas Sarwar to become Scottish Labour’s next leader.
Murray is also strongly anti-independence. He most recently appeared on Question Time in May last year.
Angela Haggerty: Commentator
Journalist @AngelaHaggerty is with us #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/Y7pFqH4Wyj
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 10, 2021
Journalist Angela Haggerty edited CommonSpace, pro-independence think tank Common Weal’s website, and was news editor at the Sunday Herald.
Haggerty is now often seen commentating on BBC, STV and Sky News programmes.
Stephen Fitzpatrick: Businessman
Businessman Stephen Fitzpatrick is on the programme #bbcqt pic.twitter.com/ECLDFJsJkS
— BBC Question Time (@bbcquestiontime) February 10, 2021
Businessman Stephen Fitzpatrick is the founder of OVO Energy and the former owner of the Manor Racing team. He is now also the president of Vertical Aerospace.
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