BBC ALBA TO BROADCAST ELECTION DEBATE AND SPECIAL RESULTS PROGRAMME

DEASBAD AN TAGHAIDH : THE ELECTION DEBATE
Wednesday 27th April at 9pm on BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA will host its election debate ‘Deasbad an Taghaidh’ at BBC Scotland’s headquarters at Pacific Quay, Glasgow, which will see representatives of the four main political parties face the audience on issues that matter to them in the election campaign.

An audience from the Gaelic-speaking Scottish electorate will put their questions to the panel, under the expert chairmanship of BBC Gaelic News presenter, Iain Maclean.

The panel of party representatives will include:

· Bill Innes - Conservative – (former air pilot and Scottish Conservatives supporter)
· Donald Crichton - Labour (local Officer for Scottish Health Council and current Labour candidate for the Western Isles)
· Peter Morrison - Liberal Democrat (former businessman and former Western Isles Enterprise Board Member and current Lib Dem candidate for the Western Isles)
· Alasdair Allan - SNP (former MSP and current SNP candidate for the Western Isles)

The one hour programme, in Gaelic with English language subtitles, will be broadcast on Wednesday 27th April at 9pm.


AN TAGHADH 2011 : SCOTTISH ELECTION 2011
Friday 6th May at 5.30pm on BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA will also present a special three-hour election results programme live from BBC’s Pacific Quay building, hosted by Iain Maclean and Angela Maclean

Iain MacLean and Angela MacLean are journalist broadcasters working on the daily BBC ALBA news programme, ‘An Là’ as well as BBC Radio nan Gaidheal’s flagship news programme, ‘Aithris Na Maidne’. Both have worked for BBC Gaelic News Service for over ten years and have expertise in both local and national politics.

‘An Taghadh 2011’ will take a look at the highlights and outcome of the election and provide analysis of what it all means for communities around Scotland, with special emphasis on the results that matter to Gaelic communities.

Expert analysis will be provided by Niall O’ Gallagher a political broadcast journalist with BBC Gaelic news, Michael Macneil a political broadcast journalist with BBC Gaelic news and Anna Macleod a freelance journalist based in London. There will also be reaction from the parties themselves and from some of those who voted in this year’s election.

In addition, the programme will look at the UK Political situation including the referendum on AV voting, the English Council Elections as well as the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assembly results.

‘An Taghadh 2011’ will be broadcast in Gaelic with English language subtitles from 5.30pm - 8.30pm on Friday, 6th May.