A row has erupted after a BBC Scotland journalist issued a bizarre ‘trigger warning’ ahead of an interview with Sandie Peggie’s lawyer, claiming some listeners may find her vocabulary ‘challenging’.
The astonishing intervention came as Martin Geissler, host of the Scotcast podcast, introduced barrister Naomi Cunningham, who has represented the A&E nurse in her fight against NHS Fife and trans medic Dr Beth Upton.
The leading barrister has also hit out at the Scottish Government for being in ‘denial’ over the landmark Supreme Court ruling on the Equality Act 2010.
At the start of the podcast, Mr Geissler welcomed Ms Cunningham, adding that ‘she represents one side in what is a white-hot argument and for that reason there may be some people out there who find some of the vocabulary she’s about to use a bit challenging’.
The broadcaster’s words sparked an angry backlash, with critics questioning whether the corporation’s guidelines on impartiality may have been breached.
The campaign group SEEN in Journalism (SIJ) posted on social media: ‘If any gratitude you feel to Scotcast for platforming Naomi Cunningham is putting you off complaining about the trigger warning, don’t let it. It must never happen again.’
Posting on X, Ms Cunningham said: ‘The journalists of SEEN in Journalism are right… It needs to stop.’
Lawyer Naomi Cunningham gave an interview to the BBC’s Scotcast
Nurse Sandie Peggie has sued NHS Fife and trans medic Dr Beth Upton
The BBC’s Martin Geissler called Peggie lawyer’s comments ‘challenging’
Last night, a BBC Scotland spokesman said the phrasing ‘fell short of a formal trigger warning’.
Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: ‘I strongly suspect no such caveat would have preceded an interview with a trans-rights activist.’
Several people posted that they had already complained, or were planning to complain, to BBC Scotland over Ms Cunningham’s treatment.
