Scots try to ban Major interview

Scots try to

ban Major

interview

BY JOHN ARLIDGE

Scotland's Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders will today take legal action to force the BBC to abandon plans to screen the Panorama interview with John Major tonight.

They say the interview contravenes the Representation of the People Act and the Corporation's internal guidelines on election coverage because it comes three days before local elections north of the border. Broadcasters are required to maintain balanced coverage in the run-up to all elections.

At the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Scotland's highest civil court, counsel for the two parties will argue that the interview is illegal and ask a judge to grant an interim interdict banning its screening north of the border until after Thursday's poll.