Tedley

ALT I am writing this open letter to you following the disgraceful decision by BBC Wales to exclude the Wales Green Party from the flagship debate programme scheduled to take place on 21 June. How can it be justifiable to leave out the Wales Green Party, who came fourth in the regional vote in the last Senedd elections and who are standing in all 32 constituencies in Wales, from the major televised debate on 21 June? This decision is awful and unsustainable. To allow two parties that had fewer votes than the Greens onto the platform shows an utter lack of balance. The first line of the BBC’s editorial guidelines on impartiality notes that ‘The BBC is committed to achieving due impartiality in all its output.’ The document adds that this is fundamental to the BBC’s reputation and values. It is clear that this editorial decision risks trashing your hard-earned reputation and trampling upon your values.

ALT It is sad to have to note that BBC Wales has form in this area. In the run-up to the last Senedd elections in 2021, BBC Wales gave a platform in its principal leaders’ debate programme (29 April) to the ‘Abolish the Welsh Assembly’ Party, but not the Wales Green Party. This decision was made to look ridiculous by the election results, in which the Greens came fourth in the regional vote and ‘Abolish’ came sixth. I have made it clear that I am ready and willing to appear on this programme, representing the Wales Green Party. It is not too late for you to change your unsustainable position on this matter and allow the Greens their democratic right to have representation at such an important occasion. Yours sincerely, Anthony Slaughter Leader, Plaid Werdd Cymru / Wales Green Party