[Media-watch] SSP European Election Broadcast

[Eddie Truman]

Scottish Socialist Party
National Office
70 Stanley Street
Kinning Park
Glasgow
G41 1JB
Eddie Truman: ***** ******

Press Release: 29/05/04: 22.00

BBC climbdown on SSP broadcast ban leaves STV isolated

Bosses at Scottish Television and Grampian Television were under pressure
tonight to lift attempts to ban a Euro election broadcast by Tommy
Sheridan's Scottish Socialist Party after the BBC caved in and dropped
similar moves.
The STV and Grampian objections to broadcast centre on the fact that it
accuses Premier Tony Blair of lying over the Iraq war and Scottish
Television lawyers say that this has to be proved by the SSP.
The award winning actor and director Peter Mullan who made the broadcast
slammed the Scottish Television move as "dangerous political censorship".
Peter Mullan, will travel to Glasgow to attend an SSP Press conference on
Sunday 30th May at 5pm to slam the gagging attempt by STV and to show the
banned  SSP Euro Election Broadcast.
Peter will be joined by Tommy Sheridan and others involved in the broadcast
and will defiantly defend the right of the SSP to refer to Tony Blair as a
liar in relation to the war on Iraq.
Peter will refer to the move as "dangerous political censorship".
Tommy Sheridan said:
"There is hardly a person in the whole of Scotland who does not believe Tony
Blair lied to us in relation to Iraq.
"He said they had nuclear, chemical and biological weapons that could be
launched in 45 minutes that posed a threat to British interests.
"None of that was true. Those weapons were not found in a year of searching.
"Tony Blair lied to justify an illegal invasion, that makes him a liar.
"The SSP's broadcast will be shown in full at the press conference.
"If the ITV layers and bosses-who we believe tried to pressure the BBC to
agree with them-persist in this act of censorship they will only bring
ridicule and scorn on themselves.
"If they think the case that Tony Blair lied to us on Iraq needs further
proof then the must be part of one on the tiniest minorities in Scotland
today."
[ends]

Press viewing of banned Scottish Socialist Party broadcast 5pm, Sunday 30th
May 'Cuba Norte'
17 John Street
(Italian Centre)
Glasgow

******************

Editors Notes:
Please note that the full text of the fax from Levy & McRae Solicitors is
not for publication.
The SSP's European election broadcast is scheduled to be shown on Tuesday
1st June at varying times.

******************
The Broadcast they tried to ban: chronology

Friday 28th May 18.20: SSP receives call from STV lawyers saying that they
would use the Ofcom Programme Code to prevent the broadcast of the SSP's
European election broadcast.

Friday 20.30: After initially clearing the broadcast, the BBC contact Tommy
Sheridan saying that there was now a problem with the accusation that Blair
was a liar and that it would have to be cut.

Friday  23:03: Tommy Sheridan receives a fax from Levy & McRae Solicitors
acting on behalf of Scottish Television and Grampian Television:
The fax demanded that the  SSP "edit/delete the statement" that Tony Blair
had "lied through his teeth about Iraq" from the SSP's European election
broadcast.

Saturday 12.00: Legal and broadcasting advisors to the SSP react with
incredulity to the demand that the reference to Blair as a liar be removed
from the broadcast and advise Tommy Sheridan that the party should refuse to
compromise over the claim, citing numerous accusations made in the media
over the past years.

Saturday 17.17: The BBC back down, saying that the interpretation of the
Ofcom Programme Code had been incorrect and agree that the broadcast will go
ahead as scheduled.
******************

Top 3 Blair lies on Iraq

Tony Blair said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction ready to
deploy against the West in 45 minutes.
It wasn't true and he knew it.
Tony Blair said that two lorry trailers found in Iraq were "proof" of
chemical weapons production.
It wasn't true and he knew it.
Tony Blair said that Luke Allsopp and Simon Cullingworth had been "executed"
in an act of cruelty beyond comprehension".
It wasn't true and he knew it.
******************

FROM	LEVY & McRAE SOLICITORS
	Angela McCracken
TO	SSP
	TOMMY SHERIDAN
23:03

Message
STRICTLY NOT FOR PUBLICATION - CONFIDENTIAL

Dear Mr Sheridan,	
Scottish TV Grampian TV

I refer to my telephone conversation with you earlier this evening.
We act on behalf of Scottish TV and Grampian TV,the regional Channel 3
Licensees in Scotland.
Our clients have concerns in respect of the Party Election Broadcast tape
forwarded to them this afternoon by the Scottish Socialist Party for
broadcast on Tuesday 1st June 2004.Senior Counsel has been consulted, The
Licensees have a responsibility to ensure any broadcast complies with the
Ofcom Programme Code which enshrines the Defamation Act 1996.
The tape contains a statement that "Tony Blair has lied through his teeth
about Iraq...."
This statement is on the face of it defamatory.Our clients require proof
from the SSP of the veracity of this statement or confirmation that the SSP
will edit/delete the statement.
I am available to discuss by cellphone 07778-509181 or fax 0141-639-8944 .
Yours sincerely,

Angela McCracken
Partner
Levy & McRae Solicitors 266 St Vincent Street Glasgow
G2 5RL
TO/TO 39tld	NVGI83HS AWW01	906PE88TPT0	60:EZ POOZ/90/88

Scottish Socialist Party
National Office
70 Stanley Street
Kinning Park
Glasgow
G41 1JB
Eddie Truman: ***** ******

Press Release: 31/05/04: 12:25

4pm deadline turns up heat on STV bosses over banned broadcast

The Scottish Socialist Party today issued a 4pm Monday ultimatum to Scottish
Television: agree to broadcast the full uncut version of the SSP's European
election broadcast or face legal action.

The move comes after the SSP received legal advice that argued that STV were
guilty of "selective, arguably partial, political censorship during an
election period".
The legal advice cites an interview with John Swinney on Scottish
Television's 'Scotland Today' programme on 23rd March 2004 in which Mr
Swinney makes the assertion that Mr Blair "lied  and deceived" and
"deliberately lied" in relation to Iraq.

In a letter to STV's lawyers, Rod McKenzie, a partner at Harper Macleod,
asks; "Why are your clients apparently content to broadcast Mr Swinney's
remarks whilst refusing to show a dramatised piece, making a less explicit
allegation, as part of my clients' Party Election  Broadcast? Is this not,
even worse than political censorship, selective, arguably partial, political
censorship during an election period? In the context of an election campaign
such discriminatory treatment as between  different parties is wholly
unacceptable."

The letter concludes;
"Please confirm that your clients will transmit my clients' Party Election
Broadcast unedited and in its entirely at the times previously agreed. In
the absence of your clients' immediate confirmation that such transmission
will take place do you have instructions from your clients to accept service
on their behalf?"

SSP national convenor Tommy Sheridan said today that STV had until 4pm
Monday 31st May to agree to transmit the broadcast unedited or face legal
action.
Tommy said;
"Scottish Television and Grampian Television are attempting to censor the
SSP's election broadcast.
"Not only that but our legal advice is that they are guilty of political
discrimination in an election period.
"This is an extremely serious allegation and one which the broadcasters will
have to address or face legal action.
"We will not tolerate STV's attempt to gag us nor will we accept the double
standards of allowing one political party to make a political point but not
another."
[ends]