Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 June 2026 [Draft]
23 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
STV North News
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S7M-00227, in the name of Jack Middleton, on save STV North news. The debate will be concluded without any question being put.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament condemns Ofcom’s reported decision to approve controversial plans to end STV’s dedicated news coverage for the North of Scotland; acknowledges that the plans were strongly opposed by the Scottish Government, MSPs from five political parties, STV workers and the general public; notes reports that a survey of viewers across North Scotland found that only 4% were in favour of the plans, and further notes the calls on television regulator, Ofcom, to urgently reconsider this decision.
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S7M-00227, in the name of Jack Middleton, on save STV North news. The debate will be concl...
Jack Middleton (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to open the debate on what is a hugely important issue for much of Scotland. I am passionate about the campaign to save STV...
Stephen Kerr (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank Jack Middleton for giving way, because he is making important points about Ofcom. One of the bizarre things that came out in the evidence that Ofcom ...
Jack Middleton
SNP
I thank Stephen Kerr for that point—I will come to that very shortly; I could not agree more.On 1 June, Ofcom finally announced that it would back STV’s plan...
Michael Marra (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Jack Middleton for bringing the debate to the chamber. Its subject is of widespread concern, and will impact significantly on communities across the ...
Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
I congratulate my neighbouring MSP, Jack Middleton, on securing his first members’ business debate. He has chosen a very good subject: a topical one that mat...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I thank Jack Middleton for securing this debate. I was pleased to support STV workers in the last session, when plans to cut STV North were first announced, ...
Stephen Kerr
Con
Maggie Chapman is making an important point about the distinctive nature of local news coverage. That was the whole point behind there being a separate licen...
Maggie Chapman
Green
I agree with that point. The abrogation of duty under that licence agreement is a real concern, and I will say a little bit more about that in a moment.We kn...
Laura Mitchell (Moray) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful for the chance to speak in this important debate on the future of STV North. I commend my colleague Jack Middleton for leading the discussion.A...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank Jack Middleton for securing this debate and congratulate him on his powerful speech.I cannot understand, and I deeply regret, not only STV’s decision...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
Due to the number of members who wish to speak in the debate, I am minded to accept a motion without notice, under rule 8.14.3, to extend the debate by up to...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
I thank my friend and colleague Jack Middleton for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I will carry on with the love-a-thon that seems to be going...
Stephen Kerr
Con
George Adam makes good points about the importance of these media outlets in relation to career opportunity, talent development and all the rest of it. The r...
George Adam
SNP
Stephen Kerr is correct. The first independent radio station outwith London in the 1970s was Radio Clyde. That was the first time that people could go and pl...
David Green (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD)
LD
I congratulate Jack Middleton on securing the debate. He has been a strong advocate for the save STV North news campaign, and I am grateful that he has given...
Stephen Kerr (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I did not enjoy Jack Middleton’s previous speech from the back of the chamber, but I did enjoy the speech that he gave this evening, because I think that he ...
Helen McDade (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform)
Reform
I thank Jack Middleton for securing the debate.Other members have talked about the process regarding Ofcom and STV. I do not know about that, but Jack Middle...
The Cabinet Secretary for Education, Culture and Gaelic (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
I thank Jack Middleton for securing the debate. I was very pleased, recently, to meet him along with the Minister for Business and Fair Work. He and others a...
Stephen Kerr
Con
The cabinet secretary will understand that I do not agree with everything that she has said, but I understand why she has said it. At the same time, it is im...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I do not think that anything I said would contradict the fact that excellent output exists across Scotland. I responded to the debate on Screen Scotland. In ...