SNP drops leaders' debate legal challenge

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has finally dropped its legal action against the BBC for preventing its leader Alex Salmond from appearing on the prime ministerial debates.

The party has been given permission to launch a judicial review into the BBC's refusal to give it a presence on the debate programme in April alongside Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats.

However, the SNP has confirmed that its legal challenge has been dropped "with the agreement of both parties".

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the SNP and the BBC announced that the judicial review application has now been withdrawn.

"In light of the fact that the election period is now over, the SNP and the BBC confirm that the legal action brought by the SNP in relation to the prime ministerial debates has been withdrawn with the agreement of both parties," said the statement.

"As the arrangements for coverage of the next general election lie entirely in the future both parties recognise that the SNP's application is now academic and substantial legal expenses would be incurred on both sides. From the BBC's perspective that would not serve the interests of licence-fee payers."

On April 28, the SNP lost its legal bid to force the BBC to allow Salmond to appear on its prime ministerial debate programme the following night.

After raising £50,000 in under 48 hours, the SNP had lodged papers at Edinburgh's Court of Session in a last-ditch effort to influence the debate format.

Salmond had accused the BBC of failing in its duty to maintain "due impartiality" in giving all political parties a fair platform for their views.

However, the court rejected the SNP's legal bid and instead supported the BBC's case that it had not breached guidelines on guaranteeing fairness and impartiality.

The BBC is currently reviewing the leaders' debate format to see if it could more actively involve the devolved nations if the exercise returns for the next general election.