Scotland’s Culture Secretary has accused the BBC of not meeting its impartiality standards during the independence referendum.
In a Holyrood debate called to defend the broadcaster, Angus Robertson claimed there had been “highly contentious” reporting during the campaign.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole Hamilton criticised Robertson: "The SNP are happy to undermine an independent and impartial national broadcaster whenever it suits them.
"The Culture Secretary's comments show that this rot goes right to the top. If it were up to them our national broadcaster would simply parrot nationalist nonsense, rather the rightly question when the government's figures don't add up."
Alex Salmond, who was SNP First Minister during the referendum, famously fell out with the BBC during the referendum over reports by the then political editor Nick Robinson.
The row led to angry nationalists holding protests outside BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow.
Critics blasted the protestors and said they had intimidated journalists who were simply doing their jobs.
Cole-Hamilton, who represents Edinburgh Western, yesterday led a debate defending the BBC amid claims by Tory MPs that the funding model should be changed.
Robertson, appointed to the Cabinet as Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, started by praising the BBC.
He said: “I'm reminded almost daily when I meet leaders and diplomats from other countries of the exceptionally high regard across the world for the BBC, and public service broadcasting in the UK.
“It's hard to overstate its significance, which comes from its core principles of providing impartial news and information, of supporting education, creativity, and our creative economy, and of representing us with high quality, compelling content.”
Cole-Hamilton asked if he regarded the reporting of the referendum as biased and whether he would condemn the “actions of the nationalist movement” for “hounding” Robinson and other members of the BBC.
Robertson replied: “It's disappointing that the member for Edinburgh Western [Cole Hamilton] isn't seeking to build compromise in the chamber, so I look forward to debating the issues in future.
“I think Nick Robinson has reflected on his part in reporting on the 2014 referendum and said he has regretted it in part, so I think the member for Edinburgh Western should reflect on the fact that there was highly contentious reporting during the independence referendum.
“And I'm sorry to say that I don't actually think - and I'm speaking as somebody who is an incredibly strong supporter of the BBC - that it stood up to its high standards of impartiality during that time. And, as a result of that, it's why it has a lower level of public confidence in Scotland and I think everybody should reflect on that, not least in the BBC.”
Labour MSP Sarah Boyack said: "This was a very worrying, if predictable intervention from Angus Robertson.
“In a democracy it’s the role of a public broadcaster to ask difficult questions of Governments.
"While the SNP and Tories heap Trumpian scorn onto the BBC, Scottish Labour will stand up for the institution and its work."
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