Billy Mitchell on Question Time

Billy Mitchell on Question Time

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Overview

William 'Billy' Mitchell on Question Time refers to controversy surrounding Billy Mitchell (not to be confused with famed Donkey Kong player Billy Mitchell), a Scottish activist who has frequently appeared as an audience member on Question Time, a British political and current affairs debate program on various program in Scotland. He has been known to attack the Scottish National Party (SNP), a Scottish political party that campaigns and supports Scottish independence and its politicians. Audience members are only supposed to be featured on Question TIme once normally. Due to his frequent appearances, the BBC, who organizes Question Time, has came under severe criticism, with the production team being accused of bias against the SNP and Scottish independence.

Background

William 'Billy' Mitchell is a Scottish activist and a former candidate for the right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP), who campaign against the European Union (EU) and are pro-unionism. Mitchell had links with the Orange Order, another group which are against the EU and pro-unionism. Mitchell first spoke on Question Time during a broadcast which aired on February 7th, 2013 which took place in Stirling. On that program, he interrupted then presenter David Dimbleby to attack SNP politician Humza Yousaf over Scottish independence and NATO.[1]

Developments

His second appearance was in November of 2016 where he attacked SNP MP John Nicolson over Scottish independence again. Billy Mitchell made his third appearance on November 2nd, 2017 which was filmed in Kilmarnock. Although he appeared on the program, he did not speak or interrupt.

February 2019 Question Time Appearance

During the Question Time aired on February 7th, 2019 from Motherwell, he once again appeared and verbally attacked Fiona Hyslop MSP, an SNP cabinet minister, the SNP and the Scottish independence movement overall.



According to Twitter user @dtaylor5633,[2] the audience that Billy Mitchell was in only had 10 Scottish independence and/or SNP supporters and was not representative of the electorate as Motherwell voted Yes for Scottish independence in 2014 and voted to Remain in the EU during the EU referendum in 2016.

Public Reaction

Before the programme even aired, Twitter user @Eileen43Eileen had questioned whether he would appear on the program as a result of his previous appearances on the show (shown below).


Eileen X @Eileen43Eileen Follow Will we see orange jacket man on #bbcqt tonight as it's coming from Motherwell? Or that auld angry Tory? The first person who spots either gets

After the episode had aired on February 7th, 2019, many started to speculate how he was allowed on the program again since he appeared on it several times before. Holyrood Magazine journalist Mandy Rhodes was one of the first people to notice his appearance on Question Time and began questioning potential bias where she tweeted asking whether Billy Mitchell had a season ticket for Question Time appearances (shown below).


mandy rhodes @holyroodmandy Follow Does this bloke have a season ticket for #bbcqt he needs to get a hobby! 7:05 PM-7 Feb 2019


Twitter user Ian Brotherhood had created a poll asking users whether the SNP should no longer appear on Question Time due to the way their politicians have been the victim of audience bias. The poll had reached over 2,000 votes with a majority voting Yes (shown below).


lan Brotherhood @ianbhood Follow Do you feel that SNP should no longer participate in BBC Question Time? 79% Yes 21% No 2,777 votes Final results 7:58 AM-8 Feb 2019

Jane Godley, a Scottish Comedian and voice over artist lip dubbed Billy Mitchell humoursly singing a song in footage from Billy's appearance.[3] According to The Canary, he was in the audience of the upcoming BBC Scotland debate program, Debate Night during the Pilot broadcast where again was allowed to speak and he again attacked the SNP and its featured representative on the show.[5]

Before filming had begun for the program, another member of the audience had captured a picture of Billy Mitchell talking to producers of the show and one of the panelists, Michael Forsyth, a Conservative peer, leading some to wonder if Mitchell was planted there by the BBC.[2]

Billy Mitchell's Response

Billy Mitchell responded to the backlash against him after being approached for comment:

A politician? Erm no I'm a normal member of the public who's opinion doesn't match the mob, if I was for SNP they would love me and you wouldn't be asking me why I gave an opinion that differs. I'm not linked or member of any political party nor am I a member of the Orange Order or flute band people's imaginations love to run wild when they want to destroy your character. I’m just a normal person interested in politics but because I don't support independence I'm evil it's not true I just don't think it's good for Scotland.[4]

On February 12th, 2019, Billy was interviewed by the Herald where he revealed that he was invited on to the programme by the producers 'to fill up the right-wing voice' in Motherwell. [6]

Media Reaction

After the criticism towards Mitchell and the BBC Question Time production team, many media outlets had reported on the accusations of bias, including The Scotsman,[1] Mirror,[4] and The Canary.[5] The BBC were contacted in response to the alleged bias and released a statement saying that there would be an investigation underway due to Billy Mitchell's constant appearances on the show.[1]

On February 14th, 2019, it was reported that the BBC Question Time production team had deliberately edited out Fiona Hyslop's response to Billy Mitchell.

Search Interest

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