³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

last time i looked into this [we did a big thing on this on the great debate board about 2002] it was not illegal in english law for uk firms to bribe foreign nationals for export orders. so why the fuss?

Islamic art bringing Cultures together - it is called a sword, then the Gun and soon to be nukes!

I was disturbed to watch Kirsty Wark interupt and talk over the First Minister Salmond as he tried to present a reasoned case.
The quality of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ TV journalism has sunk from low to worse, and must frustrate so many.

Whether we agree with Alex Salmond or not, he is the First Minister of Scotland - is it not the height of discourtesy simply to fade him out mid-sentence after repeatedly interrupting him, as Kirsty Wark has just done?

Why couldn't Kirsty Wark give Alex Salmond a proper chance to answer her questions ? I doubt Alex will not be invited to holiday with Kirsty in her Spanish holiday home like Jack McConnell did ???

Impartial interviewing I think not ?

Whether we agree with Alex Salmond or not, he is the First Minister of Scotland - is it not the height of discourtesy simply to fade him out mid-sentence after repeatedly interrupting him, as Kirsty Wark has just done?

Whose idea was it to allow a presenter with close family links to the ousted Scottish First Minister, Jack McConnell, to be the first Newsnight journo to take his replacement, Alex Salmond, to task on the Libya/Lockerbie issue?

Irrespective of her professional competence, the perception in Scotland (leaving aside the issue itself which Salmond clearly attempted to address despite repeated sub-Paxmanite barracking) will be that there is a less then objective agenda here - and more evidence of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's pro-Unionist London-centric world view.

Maurice - Northumberland:

"Islamic art bringing Cultures together - it is called a sword, then the Gun and soon to be nukes!"

The above comment shows your intelligence, that is all that needs to be said.
By the way, "Islamic art" already includes nukes via Pakistan, but I guess you were talking about Iran.

Well well. Didn't Kirsty show her true colours in her rude and domineering 'interview' with Alec Salmond on tonight's newsnight! I'm afraid I'm left with a very sour taste from her loud and bullying shout down of our First Minister. I would have given Kirsty more credit for professionalism before this, but she simply could not contain her contempt for him. Since when did the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ encourage their presenters to shut up a guest with their own loud biased views? Maybe Kirsty has had her day? Or needs a refresher course in diplomacy!

The timings allocated to tonight's topics were embarrassing. 20 mins on a sensationalistic non-story of domestic political ‘intrigue’ and the negotiating tactics of an outgoing prime minister. Followed by 5 minutes on the environment - a topic which will have a devastating impact on the world. Maybe next week you can lead with Big Brother followed by five mins on the economy- Richard and Judy could even host?

Why was Kirsty Wark so hugely agitated during her interview with Alex Salmond? Her behaviour was pointlessly discourteous. We didn't get to hear what he wanted to say due to her repeated, rude and needless interruptions.

Of all the news journalists I have the greatest regard for Kirsty Wark, but tonight I was shocked to witness her exchange with Alex Salmond.
She was rude and unprofessional. She should have not cut him off like she did. Respect is free and it should have been given to Scotlands First Minister.
I doubt that the Prime Minister would be treated like the way Alex Salmond was treated tonight.

I was stunned by the unprofessional and discourteous display by Kirsty Wark in her piece with Alex Salmond. If this was an attempt to 'Paxo' him, it failed by not allowing him to answer questions raised. The final, "well that's enough from you..." finish was extremely rude.

I am not an SNP supporter, but would have expected the First Minister of Scotland to have been dealt with in a proper journalistic manner.

Rude and unprofessional behaviour from Kirsty Wark tonight - I for one wanted to listen to what Alex Salmond had to say. I was unable to do so because of Kirsty's badgering and hectoring tones. I had to turn her off!

#8 Ali Wrote:-

"The above comment shows your intelligence, that is all that needs to be said"

Well spotted Ali - thanks for the compliment. I keep in touch with what is happening in Iran, it is very interesting:-

How many Pakistani's in Britain and Europe?
How many Iranians in Britain an Europe?
Then, how many of both in Israel?
--------------------------
Yes I have to agree with many comments above, Kirsty Wark exposed herself tonight in a very undignified way, being a Blairite, a NuLabourite, soon to be a Brownite and an obvious champagne Socialist, could anything be expected?

Kirsty Wark' behaviour tonight was quite contemptible, and demonstrated all too clearly her dislike of the views of the First Minister of Scotland.
It was unprofessional and rude.
It is of course unlikely that she will ever invite Alex for a weekend break at her holiday villa, but it is essential that she attempts to behave like the intelligent and professional individual she has postured as in the past.
On tonight's evidence, she might be better placed as a 'shock jock' on 'Radio Egotrip'.
Kirsty, you should be ashamed of yourself, you have let your profession down, and you have vapourised your integrity with all who witnessed your performance tonight.

"Kirsty loses it, Live!"

Great TV!

The more newsnight turns into Oprah the more I like it..!

..who needs journalism!

I want entertain-alism!

(Could you get Judge Judy on the show with Paxo for like a big head-to-head of "serious" people on tv..)

Kirsty Wark - former journalist - now just another Labour hack.

What was wrong with Kirsty to night, while I realize that she has links with various people in the Labour Party, what was she so rude and unprofessional with Alex Salmond, how it was so obvious to us viewers, I expect more from Newsnight.
I have never written about a programme, to anyone, but felt so strong about this, and the way she spoke to Mr Salmond

Well it looks like in this megalomaniacal media mania ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's world, Britain is turning into a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ-ocracy with Bush House as the Palace of Windsor. I'd like to say something on Kirsty Wark's behalf... it's just that I can't think of anything. Of course it might have helped had I actually seen the program. But then again why bother, anything which is in conflict with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ-ology will get squelched on its programs one way or another. I guess there are two theories of an interview. The one most of us are familiar with, the eliciting of the views of the interviewee, and the other being the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's theory, to provide an oration platform for those who spout ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ-ology and to set up a straw man to ignite for those who are in opposition to it. Keep it up ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, perhaps someone in Westminster will actually wake up and take notice. Nah, they are too busy with important matters, like sorting out rubbish collections. As you were.

I was very shocked and disapointed at the way Kirsty Wark conducted her interview with First Minister Alex Salmond
In, what should have been a straight forward interview in getting the views of the Scottish Government. Kirsty Wark lost the plot and proceeded to harang the First Minister. The interview became less and less objective and more and more objectionable, to the point at the end of the interview, Kirsty Wark just cut off the First minister in mid sentence. Regardless of political views, Ms Wark should not loose it as she evidently did and have more respect for the post of First Minister

This was simply appalling conduct of an "interview" by Kirsty Wark with Alex Salmond tonight. She could at least try to appear to be a professional and impartial interviewer.

She seemed so caught up in the emotion of her long series of accusations repeatedly fired at Salmond, without appearing to listen or hear his answers, that she forgot the audience at home who were witnessing her rant.

It makes me think that it was a good call not to let her anchor the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Scottish Election coverage, after the publicity surrounding the holiday taken at her villa with her family friend Jack McConnel.

If Kirsty Wark cannot restrain herself from letting personal views and emotion get in the way, then the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ should also consider whether she remains suitable to conduct political interviews.

Clearly there is consensus that Kirsty behaved in a way we would rather not see from our political broadcasters.

I question, though, whether we will be able to get an explanation? An apology I doubt but I for one would love to see Kirsty explain herself to her viewers, who else does she serve afterall?

Oh, I forget...

Having watched the worst 'interview' on Newsnight for some time where Kirsty Wark, in full rant, was barely coherent as she spat out her biased introduction and continued to antagonise Scotland's First Minister, I am seriously wondering why the programme producer did not fade her out instead? Her dreadful banshee performance served to make Mr Alex Salmonds cool, calm and measured approach all the more rational and courteous. According to the media, Ms Warks past holiday arrangements have included socialising with the (thankfully) ex-First Minister - Jack McConnell of Labour persuasion - and I hope she might now bitterly regret having ironically demonstrated the SNP integrity and the respectful demeanour with which Mr Salmond easily outshone the vitriolic Ms Wark. I'm all for robust debate but a spiteful harrying has no place in a programme normally above such pathetic behaviour from its interviewers.

No big fan of Alex, in fact i don't like the man but the mauling he had to endure from kirsty was quite a shock to witness, i actually felt sorry for the man. Kirsty must have had a bad day or something, whatever it was, she was on fire tonight. Newsnight needs to send a bunch of flowers with a bottle of best Scotch whisky to Alex as soon as possible, to take the sting out of Kirsty's now infamous interview, if this sticks in Alex Salmonds craw, he could be deadly; one thing for sure, he wont forget that interview in a hurry.

The Saudi arms deal slush fund comes back to haunt the Government; this story was never gonna go away, thanks to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Panorama's up and coming Sunday airing of their investigations into this whole affair, it can only jab the thorn in the governments side even deeper, though no embarrassment will ever be shown by them, good relations with Saudi and selling military fighter jets are more important, and like Blair said today when questioned about it; he generalized and mentioned thousands of jobs was what was important in all this. The military industry needs to make and sell arms, i have no problem with that, but not just on the basis of securing jobs to sell to third rate countries such as Saudi, which has loads of oil and loads of dollars but is still a backward country in comparison to Europe, and if it was not for them having liquid gold, we would not even sell them toothpaste. We complain to Iran when British solders are killed and maimed by Iranian military hardware( rightly so) but we sell military equipment to rouge states that kill and maim in conflicts too, but very little is heard about the misery inflicted by our weaponery killing people, usually innocents around the world, is that a double standard or what?

Thousands of jobs made secure by this Saudi contract, which was one of Blairs answers to a tough question, But we can afford to give a billion pounds of tax payers money in sweeteners to a Saudi broker/dealer, you don't need me to do the sums for you, and i hope you get my point. I know i keep saying this but you sometimes need to repeat and bang on to get it home; where there is vast fortunes, there are vast crimes, please remember that. A quintessential English village is owned by the main recipient of the slush fund, great in it.

'Scotland insulted'

Dr Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the bombing and who speaks for other British victims, said Scotland had been insulted by the British-Libyan agreement.

Referring to the document, he said: "Incredibly it seems that we are being asked to believe that this concerns other Libyan nationals, but not Megrahi.

"No mention of any discussion was given to us, the Lockerbie relatives.

"Mr Salmond should indeed remain indignant: Scotland has been insulted."

What did Kirsty say again to our First Minister regarding the families of the victims?
It looks like that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ will have to apologize to them as well.

I cannot believe the degree of discourtesy that Alex Salmond was treated to by Kristy Wark last night. I enjoy the adversarial tones of both Jeremy Paxman and Kristy Wark but last night performance by Miss Wark seemed solely designed to humiliate Scotland's first minister. She did not let him respond fully and repeatedly cut short his remarks made in answer to her own questions. A shameful display of poor manners on behalf of a presenter who should, quite frankly, know better.

I didn't see the Newsnight programme at the time but have just watched it on the website, open-mouthed in disbelief.
Up to now I've always liked Kirsty Wark, but that was a disgraceful, petulant, discourteous and thoroughly unprofessional display of bad manners to our First Minister. She ought to be ashamed of herself.

More inane vitriol from The Ministry of Truth. And we have to shell out in order to be subjected to this propaganda. What a state of affairs.

I want to add to those complaints against Kirsty Wark's behaviour last night. I usually admire her work but having clearly been wrongly briefed about the subject and put straight in very clear and calm terms by Alex Salmond she resorted to shouting and interupting. To end up accusing him of playing politics withe the victims of Lockberie was an utter disgrace given that everyone agrees that Tony Blair made a deal with his friend Ghaddafi without consulting Scotland which has an effect on the Lockerbie case. I think she should do the honourbale thing and write to salmond to apologise. At the same time she could do what Blair has not and ring him up to congratulate him on his victory.
Having made this point we should all remember that the evidence al Megrahi is extremely dodgy and I trust that he will be successful at the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

As an English Liberal Democrat voter I am no particular supporter of Alex Salmond, but Kirsty Wark's treatment of him on last night's programme was appalling. She was exceptionally rude, clearly partisan and unprofessional and didn't give the viewer the chance to make up their own mind. She would never have treated Jack McConnell in that manner. Perhaps she should be confined to Westminster interviews in future.

I want to complain about Kirsty Wark's interview with Alex Salmond. I could not hear the points he was making for her constant interruptions and feel that she showed contempt for the First Minister. I'm all in favour of a robust interview but I feel that Kirsty became rude and showed her own emotion rather than professionally conduct a probing interview.
I want to see our politicians on Newsnight, but with with interviews like last night, the result will be that fewer of them will be willing to take the kind of treatment handed out last night.

Disgraceful, complete lack of impartiality, visceral hatred of Scotland's First Minister. Kirsty Wark threw out twenty years of sound journalistic practise last night to score points off a man who was merely doing his job of defending Scotland justice system. Shame on you Kirsty.

I thought Kirsty Wark was disrespectful and ill informed when interviewing First Minister Salmond on last night’s programme. She constantly shouted over him and from the very beginning of the piece revealed an open hostility and bias. The tone was set by saying that Alec Salmond had 'picked a fight' with Tony Blair. This could have been written by the Labour Party press office.

I defended Kirsty Wark when she was revealed to holiday with former Labour First Minister Jack McConnell. I thought she was professional enough not to let personal friendships and politics influence her reporting. However, last night she threw her dummy and professionalism out of her pram in a petulant and rude performance.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ was right to ban Kirsty Wark from covering the Scottish elections. She should now be removed from covering all Scottish political stories.

The Kirsty Wark interview of Alex Salmond was a shocking example of biased reporting and complete disrespect for the democratically elected First Minister. She did not let him answer the question and the shouting down of him at the end of the interview, together with the completely biased intro to the piece really is unacceptable on Newsnight. As the memorandum did refer to consulting the three UK devolved adminstrations - ie including Scotland - and there is only one Libyan prisoner in Scotland -the implication is that Meghrahi is included in this, and there is no other mention of him excluded from this.
Newsnight should apologise to Alex Salmond for the conduct of their interviewer, and Kirsty Wark should not be allowed to interview Scottish politicians if she cannot act in an unbiased manner.

Kirsty Wark has now managed to
"Dumb Down" Newsnight - not content with her Madonna sycophancy she now endorses her own views on politics by being downright rude to a very decent man.

I agree with the comments on the disrespectful interview by Wark. However Newsnight seems to emulate the contempt that Westminster has with The Scottish Parliament.

The fade out to Newsnight Scotland opens with McGregor complaining that her request for an interview with the FM resulted in ( the over egged ) " ..he never calls, he never writes.." Doesn`t Newsnight Scotland have monitors to watch Newsnight England ? The FM was just being interviewed by Wark a few minutes previous to the hand over. Does the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ does not have the technology to allow the London studio to take over the interview in Scotland ? ( or does the new shrewd FM think McGregor is a lightweight compared to the former FM`s holiday house mate ? )

Was the shot of Stephanie Flanders
walking on the beach with near naked hunky volleyball men in shorts checking her out a happy accident? or a subtle signal to the sisterhood?

I watched the program last night and wondered if I was being a bit over sensitive when I thought Kirsty was "going over the top" with the lack of basic courtesy she was showing to Alex Salmond. However after reading some of the comments here I don't think so.

I also watched "newsnicht" and the presenter there complained that Alex had declined the offer to appear on her program "he never writes, he never 'phones". After the mauling he had received from Kirsty it was hardly surprising. Perhaps the London team had queered the pitch ?

Last nights interview of First Minister Salmond by Kirsty Wark was nothing short of a disgrace.
There was no attempt to hide her political bias and this got the better of her throughout the interview.
I want to see politicans questioned,but fairly .this wasn't fair she was rude ,arrogant and childish when it became clear to her that Alex Salmond had got the better of her without him even having to try very hard.
Alex Salmond is the political leader of Scotland,Ms Wark is no doubt annoyed by this given her support for the Labour party however her position as a serious political journalist is untenable.

This is the first time I have ever complained or posted anything on a website.
Kirsty Walk's treatment of the Scottish First Minister was disgraceful. I don't care about her politics, but when she's working for the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ she is supposed to act on our behalf in an impartial educated and yes, respectful manner. Kirsty you let yourself and the viewers down last night. During the programme the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ switchboard was jammed with people complaining about the interview. I hope these complaints are properly investigated.
I also hope that the First Minister receives an apology.

Totally disgusted at the treatment of Alex Salmond by Kirsty Wark. She was rude and discourteous to the First Minister of Scotland. Whether she likes it or not he was elected by the people of Scotland and although she would rather have her party in power she should treat Mr. Salmond and the SNP with respect.

Wark has long been over-rated, but she appeared to plumb new depths of mediocrity on Thursday night. There is rarely any point to her hectoring and that broadcast illustrated it. After cutting Salmond off repeatedly, she then turned to her next guest and essentially said, 'the first minister has a point, doesn't he?' I turned the TV off.

I would also like to register my disgust at Kirsty Wark's rudeness last night in her interview with Mr Salmond. I expect that this will be her last with members of the new Scottish government as she obviously cannot contain her dislike of the new FM and coupled with her close relationship with the previous leader, her position as impartial interviewer is untenable.

All the comments read the same
Kirsty Wark let Newsnight down badly she has sadly and slowly
"dumbed down" what has been an excellent News programme for years the Madonna sycophancy "interview masquerade" being another of her "dumbing down" triumphs.

Alex Salmond did not deserve to be treated like that he is a very decent man.

I have tried to post this earlier but the on line web site editor deleted it.So I try again

Re-Kirsty Wark/Alex Salmond. It's all starting to come out now, if proof were ever required that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ employes more Labour lovies than anyone else. As a public broadcaster surely the people employed by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ should be informed that as part of their contract they must be impartial in any dealing with either polititians or members of the public

I recorded by concern about the Alex Salmond/Kirsty Wark interview with the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's switchboard last night. Clearly Ms Wark had her own agenda to aggressively interogate the messenger, rather than objectively and impartially establish the truth of the message, which was about Tony Blair embracing Colonel Gaddafi on his round-the-world farewell tour. Alex Salmond deserves nothing less than an on-air apology from Ms Wark on tonight's programme.

What a disappointing performance by Kirsty Wark last night. Regardless of the fact that her continual interupting and aggressive manner meant that as a viewer i gained no further understanding of the issue, it was blatantly obvious that objectivity and impartiality went completely by the board. I would like to know how the editorial team imagine viewers' perception of her ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ required impartial stance is not harmed by her well publicised friendship with Jack McConnell. It was certainly harmed by her most unprofessional manner last night. A Petulant, rude, intemperate and wholly unprofessional performance letting herself and the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ down badly

I have received an apology from Peter Barron who said that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ would apologise to Alex Salmond for cutting him off so abruptly at the end of the 'interview'. I replied saying that this didn't go far enough. As for K Wark's conduct during the interview, it was fobbed off as being- 'but for most of the interview I don't think we strayed outside the boundaries of what viewers expect or find acceptable in a Newsnight interview.' Given the comments on this blog. site I think he will have to review his understanding of what is acceptable to the viewers.

I did not see the interview live but have since seen it.
Quite appalled at the whole scenario.

Also at some online website editor deleting Jeanette SW4's post. Have to say at times I have phoned ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ about a variety of programmes and met with dreadful diffidence when trying to put across a viewpoint.

As the previous post said, a full apology tonight to Alex Salmond must be forthcoming, unless of course someone has taken the ultimate sanction against Ms Wark and we shall not see her again.

No hope of that I am afraid!

Everyone complaining/commenting on the Kirsty Wark diatribe should, like me, make an OFFICIAL complaint.
My post on this forum has still not appeared. Mind you,I did mention Mr. Brown and jack McConnel. So perhaps it was struck down.

Peter Barron in The Editor's Column -
"The encounter was indeed intense and at times tetchy - Mr Salmond is always a robust and challenging interviewee - but for most of the interview I don't think we strayed outside the boundaries of what viewers expect or find acceptable in a Newsnight interview."

Wrong Mr Barron. You strayed way outside those boundaries. The number of complaints you received demonstrated that, and you know it.

When wrong like this, an unqualified apology is the required response. Trying to gloss over as you have done simply aggravates and prolongs.

The confirmation from Tripoli last night that they were talking to Blair about al-Megrahi, should make this even more embarrassing for you.

The SNP don't have to stir the pot
Westminster will do that perfectly well all by itself.

53#
"censorship at work" get rid of the bbc
licence fee is a waste of money for such poor journalism

kirsty wark should apologise personally to mr Salmond,not the bbc.She should also be taught a lesson in good manners.The bbc should also find an unbiased reporter in future.

Is Kirsty Wark a secret recruiting sergeant for the SNP? That is one explanation of her Newsnight rant.
Another is that she allowed her Labour bias to overcome her professionalism. Also, she could not, surely, put on such a jaw dropping performance if she felt that her views might not be supported by her ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ production team.
Who is Kirsty Wark? How is it possible that a Labour hack is allowed to treat our First Minister with such rudeness and bias? Our First Minister represents the nation. Treat him badly and you treat all Scots badly.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ seems to think that the matter is closed. Dream on. We Scots have long memories.

Thurs 7 June Kirsty Wark interview of Alec Salmond

I was shocked and saddened to see and hear Ms Wark's loss of professionalism toward Mr Salmond. The personal contempt for Scotlands First Minister was all to apparent. Ms Warks blazing eyes and contstant interruptions presented as someone who had flipped and thrown away years of profesionalism. In particular her partisanship was all to obvious when she turned to speak to the Scottish Office Minister. It's ironic to see a journalist whom I always considered a by word for high jounalistic and intellectual standards ending up as a figure of ridicule on 'youtube'. the question now is has Kirsty devalued herself as a political interviewer?

The sooner Kirsty Wark is confined to interviewing her labour party pals the better. Totally unbalanced and unprofessional. I will not watch that woman again.

I would like to register my disgust at the way in which Kristy Wark conducted herself on the bbc newsnight interview with the first minister.

The bbc should insist on a public apology and allow these questions to be answered in a professional manner.Kristy you really let yourself down and your bbc colleagues....shame on you

My attempt to comment on the KW/Alex Salmond "interview" has failed. I can only conclude that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ has closed comment on the issue. Self-censorship, or what?

I watched the programme, alas I didn't know about this blog, until today after I have sent a formal letter of complaint to the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ about Kirsty Warks behaviour.
I like most, regardless of one's political views, do think people are entitled to respect, even politicians. Ms Wark's true colours were shown, not only was it lack of respect to our First Minister - (bet "Wee" Jack would not have received that treatment) it is the lack of respect to those of us who live in Scotland.
Do what I did - make a formal complaint!

I like many others contacted the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ after watching Kirsty Wark interview Alec Salmond on Newsnight.
Never have I seen a more biased performance from any journalist no matter what the item concerned in the interview.
I wondered what she would have said to Tony Blair, if she had been interviewing him after his kissing exhibition with Gaddaffi, a dictator and leader of terrorists for many years and the real mover behind the Lockerbie disaster.
Miss Wark who benefits from lucrative ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ contracts through her production company as well as her other sinicures within the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ should be disciplined for her 'performance' the other night. This is the same lady who failed to produce items when instructed about the maladministration by the labour party of the Scots parliament building when instructed by Lord Fraser carrying out the enquiry concerning the same.
Her bias, lack of judgement and attitude should result in her disqualifcation to comment or interview any one connected with this modern outlook we now have in scottish politics.
Who would have believed that the Tories would be allied to the SNP and the politicians of the other parties, even Jack Mcconnell her friend, in calling foul at the attitude and conduct of 'yesterdays Man' in the final death throws of his ill judged and poor reign as the king of all he surveys.
I only hope Cherie Blair has a large supply of Libyian oil to massage his ever increasing ego

Well Kisty really showed her political colours when interviewing Alex Salmond. She acted as political inquisitor on behalf of her pal Jack McConnell and frankly it was embarassing to watch. Her shrieking voice and her facial rage only served to dimininsh the credibility of the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ. Her labour party loyalty was showing and perhaps her anger was because she might not get more contracts for her 'other job' eg the gathering place that never hit the nail on the head.

Apparently during Jack McConnell's term as First Minister, Kirsty Wark's production company received a number of contracts from the Scottish Executive.

Given that Wark and McConnell were holiday sharing friends, perhaps just to ensure that everything was above board, the new First Minister, Alex Salmond, might commission an enquiry into this matter.

After watching the report on Newsnight, I too am drawn to comment on the fact that the democratically elected representative of the Scottish people has been treated with so much disrespect by a British broadcaster.
Now that the Scottish people have decided to follow a different ideaology than that of the UK parliament, are we seeing a real indication of how much respect the UK government has of another democratically elected body within the UK?
Keep it up Kirsty. Show the Scottish people how they are really viewed.. and let them ultimately decide.

After watching the report on Newsnight, I too am drawn to comment on the fact that the democratically elected representative of the Scottish people has been treated with so much disrespect by a British broadcaster.
Now that the Scottish people have decided to follow a different ideaology than that of the UK parliament, are we seeing a real indication of how much respect the UK government has of another democratically elected body within the UK?
Keep it up Kirsty. Show the Scottish people how they are really viewed.. and let them ultimately decide.

I think there is a a censorship issue with the Newsnight WebSite

Peter Barron is editor of Newsnight
But on the link
Permalink Comments (86) and it dispalys only 31 !!

Licence fee payers should be allowed to comment Surely? Interesting though they can banter between themselves about you made a certain film first and those comments with alacrity get posted.
That's the Oxbridge classes I suppose

Finally watched the whole of Thursday's Newsnight last night. Since I'm English and do not vote for either SNP or Labour, I have no axe to grind, but I feel I really must defend Kirsty Wark.

I can only conclude that some of the complainants did not watch the entire interview, but stopped immediately after the section with Alec Salmond.

Yes, she was terse and combative with Mr.Salmond, but she was equally so with the Labour politician whom Ms.Wark interviewed immediately afterwards. Not only did she repeatedly apologise for having to cut Mr.Salmond off while he continued to speak as she moved back to the studio "terribly sorry, terribly sorry", she then raised several of his points in the strongest possible terms with the Labour representative.

Whatever her connections may be with the Labour Party in Scotland, they certainly were not evident from this interview.

As for deference being due to the Scottish First Minister: deference no, courtesy yes. The same is true for all British and indeed foreign politicians, whether or not they hold high or other office in their own country.

I have seen much more brusque treatment of both UK and foreign ministers in the past (more often, it has to be said, by male interviewers). Some of them had definitely earnt it during the interview. Mr.Salmond certainly was neither rude nor evasive nor obviously duplicitous. Perhaps Ms.Wark was merely warming up for his Labour counterpart!

Just want to register my disgust with Kirsty Wark over the First Minister interview. It showed unacceptable bad "mainners"on her part. But let's not forget the reason for the absurd maniacal screeching.It was due to her closeness with the New Labour ex FM
Jack McConnel and allowed by the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ who know of that relationship.
The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ should stop this bias immediately.

Interesting that you wouldn't post my comment supporting Kirsty Wark.

Now that I look, there is no longer a single comment on here which is less than condemnatory. There were some yesterday.

One has to ask why.

My original comment has now appeared. Apologies if I simply missed it the first time round!

Sorry...

Kirsty Wark interview with Alex Salmond - 7 June.

I agree entirely with the severe criticisms made by so many viewers of Kirsty Wark's disgraceful behaviour.

To say that it was unprofessional would be the understatement of the year. She was utterly shamed by his courteous and good-humoured response.

I am concerned that the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ's apology, reported in the Independent on Sunday, has apparently received no coverage anywhere else, in particular on Newsnight itself.

I consider that Ms Wark should be required to make a public apology in person and subjected to appropriate discipline.

I didn't see the Newsnight interview with Alex Salmond when it was first aired, but, having watched it since on YouTube, I have to say that I don't see what all the fuss is about.

Kirsty Wark was certainly rude and combative - but then that is the Newsnight style, isn't it? I have no difficulty at all in believing that the Labour politician who was her next interviewee received the same treatment, or that she attacked him with the very points that she had previously condemned Alex Salmond for making. I have seen her (and her colleagues) do this many times before. It was certainly rude to cut him off - but this too is quite often done, both on Newsnight and on the Today programme. On the whole, I thought that Mr Salmond came out of the interview well rather than otherwise.

As a Scot, I also feel rather insulted at the idea that our First Minister should be shown a deference that would (in my opinion) not be extended to the UK Prime Minister. Our ministers are big boys and girls, and quite capable of looking after themselves, thank you very much - we don't need kid-glove treatment, as if we were some Ruritanian administration, run by amateurs. What we do perhaps need is more airtime on the UK news - but with Mr Salmond as First Minister, it looks as though we might well get this.

However, the incident has reminded me exactly why I so rarely watch Newsnight these days. Although the 'duels' between politicians and presenters can be enormously entertaining, I find nowadays that I get far more information from the calmer, less strident tone of Radio 4's 'The World Tonight'!

Why have not heard an apology from the editor of 'Newnight' to Mr Salmond re Kirty Warke's behaviour when she interviewed him.
By the way, I am not Scottish, and have nothing to do with the SNP, or do not live in Scotland.