The SNP have a right to be featured in TV debates and deserve to have a fair share of the time nationally allocated to party election broadcasts on television as, at present, they are the governing party of Scotland. Neither the Conservatives nor the Liberal Democrats are the governing party in any of the constituent countries that make-up the United Kingdom. Therefore, it stands to reason that the SNP, in some respects, have MORE right to feature in television debates than either of the other two main political parties.

Some of the key issues to be debated such as the economy, foreign policy, health, social care etc...are all issues that are going to affect Scottish citizens as profoundly as people throughout the UK. The SNP deserve the right to discuss their policies and to quiz the other parties on theirs. The public service remit of UK broadcasting is specifically designed to ensure that all sections of society are being catered for, and Scotland deserve to hear their administration participating in an important election debate. To have seperate debates for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would go against the spirit of inclusivity.

The SNP's cornerstone Policy is independance for Scotland. In that respect, such an issue deserves to be aired on a national stage as it is a decision that affects all those within the UK.

Despite the fact that such a constitutional question is hardly likely to be relevant in the near future; it is something that the public at large deserve to hear debated by the three other most prominent politicians in the land. The SNP also have a right to voice their opinion on defence, and the European Union.

The SNP support nuclear disarmament and are at their core isolationist in their view on foreign policy, the Scottish should hear the alternative views from the national leaders, just as those in England, Northern Ireland and Wales deserve to hear what the leading party in their neighbour to the north stand for.