Question Time (Yet Again)

[New Judge]

Why is it that whenever QT visits Scotland almost the entire programme is devoted to solely Scottish matters. There was a programme a few months ago which concentrated almost exclusively on Scottish Independence. Now, having been watching it for twenty minutes, the Dundee edition is heading the same way.

Programmes from England usually cover general issues of interest to the entire UK. The Scots make up only about 5% of the UK population. For the other 95% the Scottish issue is of little interest and something over which they have no control. Is it time for a separate QT for the minority components where they can prattle on to their hearts' content about matters of no interest to anybody else?

[mikey4444]

There are some Tories living north of the Border but only enough to vote for one MP out a possible 59. According to this link, they came forth in 2010 ::

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_United_Kingdom_general_election_results_in_Scotland

That is one more seat than they got in 1997 !

[mushroom25]

don't you mean they came fourth, mikey?

"forth" means something specific in eastern Scotland. :-)

[mikey4444]

My little joke mushroom !

[ToraToraTora]

That's great Mikey, so when they get "independence" - that'll wipe out a lot of labour seats at westminster, purpetual Tory goverenement, happy days, come on Scotland, vote yes and do your Tory friends a favour!

[mikey4444]

Don't be silly TTT

[Quizmonster]

It seems to be generally assumed that Alex Salmond would automatically become Prime Minister were Scotland to vote for independence this year. There's no such certainty at all. There would surely need to be a general election in the country and - though the SNP have most seats in the Scottish Assembly - that would not necessarily be the case thereafter.

[Baldric]

///as i have already pointed out, many people live in Scotland, those eligible to vote may not be Scots, nor Scots descent///

If the population of Scotland does equal 5% of the UK population (not checked btw) the number of non-Scots in that figure must be very small indeed.

[ToraToraTora]

Silly? just doing arithmetic mikey!

[LazyGun]

How frequently do they broadcast from Scotland? Given its relative infrequency, I have no issue at all with them focusing on Scottish-related affairs, particularly in view of the upcoming referendum.

[New Judge]

“…think about it,,,, when QT has come from England, have there ever been Scottish people on the panel ? “

Yes, frequently. “Regulars” that spring to mind are Danny Alexander and Nicola Sturgeon. There is probably a Scot on the panel at least every other week. But, of course, they get a say in matters that effect only the English, whereas the reverse is not true, so I suppose that’s the reason.

“Why the loss of interest?”

I think that earlier question was the one where I suggested that all people in the UK should have a vote on Scottish Independence. It is clear that they will not, so now I (being south of the border) am no longer interested.

My question is not anti-Scottish, Slapshot. If it has to be described as anti-anything it is anti-BBC because of the way they treat English and Scottish audiences so differently.

“If the population of Scotland does equal 5% of the UK population (not checked btw)”

Population of UK = 63.182m
Population of Scotland = 5.295m
%age Scotland = 8.4%

(source:census 2011)

Yes, sorry Baldric, I hadn’t checked it either. I had in my mind that Scotland’s population was around 3m.

Anyway, thanks for all your contributions. Made for a much more lively debate than that on QT (apart from the Rab C Nesbitt character sitting at the back who denounced just about everything to do with England, Scotland, Europe and the rest of the world about 20 mins into the programme).

The Oscar for “Best Answer” goes to whiskeyron for his accurate portrayal of this ridiculous nonsense.

I thought I’d have a quick look at the frequency of Scottish editions of QT and the make up of the panels. Since January 2013 there have been 42 QTs (I’m discarding the preposterous South African edition last December). Among them there have been four visits to Scotland. So at 9.3%, about right for the population. However, on those four occasions only one panelist - Nigel Farage in Edinburgh on June 13th- was not a Scot. The remaining 20 were all Scottish. By contrast, although I have not gone through the list comprehensively, it is very easy to spot the Scots on the English panels. These include Ming Campbell (x2), Margot James (x2), Danny Alexander (x3), Douglas Alexander (x2). I’m sure I could find a good few more.

So there’s plenty of room for Scots when QT comes from England (nothing wrong with that) but virtually no room for English people (or indeed any other nationality) when it is broadcast from Scotland.

[anneasquith]

'' apart from the rab c Nesbitt character '' NJ, is that a bit racist ? :)

[emmie]

no going on the fact that Scotland has plenty of Rab C Nesbit characters, i have known a fair few myself, some anti English to the core.

[emmie]

rather interesting figures, does this mean that Polish people resident in Scotland also get a vote,

http://www.scotlandscensus.gov.uk/en/news/articles/release2a.html

[Quizmonster]

It has been repeated endlessly, but here goes again...ALL residents of Scotland provided their names are on an electoral roll qualify for the vote.
There may be obvious disqualifications for the mentally disabled etc, but otherwise - to (mis)quote the new pension system adverts - "They're all in!"

[New Judge]

Quite so, QM.

I think I suggested in an earlier question that a few English people who might like to see Scotland go its own way should take up temporary residence North of the Border for a few weeks around the qualifying date so as to be granted a vote.

[emmie]

i wouldn't, let it decide on it's own merits, but i am surprised that any Polish, Lithuanian, or any people that are based in Britain but are not British can have a say in Sottish independence, we couldn't decide their fate in any way, so why should they.

[Quizmonster]

It works the other way around, too, Emmie. I am a Scot, but - as a long-term resident of the south coast of England - I have no say in the outcome. Given the diaspora that has affected Scotland for generations, there must be a multitude of people around the world who also feel themselves to be Scottish but who are in exactly the same position as I am.

I've been on various electoral rolls for so long now, NJ, that I have totally forgotten how one gets to be on one in the first place! Consequently, I have no idea whether your "temporary residence" notion for English people to qualify for a vote would work. I can't exactly envision them pouring across the Tweed and into B & Bs in order to have their say!