How unfortunate that such empathetic insight as displayed by the Rev Beeb in Forster’s “A Room with a View” is not echoed by the mighty Auntie Beeb when it comes to allowing democratic voice to its Scottish license-payers. As outlined in the excellent “A Sair Fecht” blog (and shamefully stolen for this one), censorship of debate has been exercised here which is not the case anywhere else within the Britain that unionists never tire of telling us is so good for us Scots.

But consider the following:

BBC Scotland: Political Editor – Brian Taylor: Comments NOT allowed.
BBC Scotland: Business Editor – Douglas Fraser: Comments NOT allowed.
BBC Wales: Political Editor – Betsan Powys: Comments allowed.
BBC Wales: Parliamentary Correspondent – David Cornock: Comments allowed.
BBC Northern Ireland: Political Editor – Mark Devenport: Comments allowed.

In England:
BBC North East & Cumbria: Political Editor – Richard Moss: Comments allowed.
BBC Yorkshire & Lincolnshire: Political Editor – Tim Iredale: Comments allowed.
BBC Midlands: Political Editor – Patrick Burns: Comments allowed.
BBC East Midlands: Political Editor – John Hess: Comments allowed.
BBC West of England: Political Editor – Paul Barltrop: Comments allowed.
BBC East of England: Political Editor – Deborah McGurran: Comments allowed.
BBC South East: Political Editor – Louise Stewart: Comments allowed.
BBC South of England: Political Editor – Peter Henley: Comments allowed.

And the reasons given? Daniel Maxwell, BBC Scotland’s news online editor, when given the task of defending the indefensible, said.

“We believe that by determining which particular issues might best be explored by the inclusion of public comment online, we will allow a more flexible and adaptable approach to be taken to how we cover the main issues in Scotland.”

Aye, right: I’m with the Rev—not Auntie—Beeb.