Four journalists with strong Scottish links are among a clutch of BBC news staffers who have signed a letter opposing a planned 48-hour strike by their colleagues during the Conservative party conference, taking place next week.
Banffshire-born James Naughtie – a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s flagship, Today news programme – and BBC TV’s chief political correspondent, Laura Kuenssberg, born in Italy but brought up in Glasgow, are among the names to the letter, which has gone to trade unions opposing proposed changes to the BBC pension scheme.
Joining them are the BBC Scotland duo of David Porter and Tim Reid.
Say the signatories to the letter, which is reproduced in full in the Scottish Daily Mail and The Guardian newspapers, any industrial action “risks looking unduly partisan – particularly when none of the other party conferences have been targeted”.
Were the industrial action to take place, it would likely blank coverage of Prime Minister, David Cameron's conference speech.
The unions involved are the NUJ, BECTU and Unite and a decision on whether the industrial action goes ahead is expected later today.
