Culture secretary thwarts Salmond move on BBC Scotland, describing it as a UK asset
Culture Secretary Maria Miller has weighed into a debate surrounding the future of the BBC in a post-independence Scotland by affirming that the broadcaster would remain a UK asset – meaning viewers north of the border could miss out on key programming.
The intervention comes after Alex Salmond promised to create a Scottish Broadcasting Service ‘based on BBC Scotland’s existing assets’, allowing shows such as Eastenders, Dr Who and Strictly Come Dancing to continue being shown.
Speaking at the Oxford Media Convention Miller said: “When it comes to voting in September I think we have to think what that vote is about.
“It’s about whether or not Scotland wants to remain a part of the UK, and if the vote is they don’t want to do that then it’s actually a vote to leave the institutions of the UK and the BBC is one of those institutions.”
Miller would not be drawn on what programming would be made available to Scotland however.