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The BBC have refused to apologise to an MSP asked on live TV if she was a victim of sexual harassment, despite receiving complaints about the interview.

Presenter Gordon Brewer sparked widespread fury with his question to MSP Maree Todd during a politics programme at Holyrood.

The BBC insist Brewer’s question had been “in the public interest” and have not offered an apology.

But Todd said yesterday that there were even “parallels” between his line of questioning and sexual harassment.

And another MSP who appeared on the programme said it may have discouraged victims coming forward.

(Image: BBC) (Image: ITV)

Todd, an SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands, and three other politicians were interviewed by Brewer on the Politics Scotland show on Wednesday.

It followed claims of misconduct at the Scottish Parliament and an urgent meeting of Scottish party leaders to discuss tackling the issue.

Brewer asked her: “Have you ever been the victim of anything like this or have you been told of people who are?”

Newspapers do not identify victims of any sex crime unless they are given permission by the person involved.

Politicians of all parties have privately told the Sunday Mail they’ve been shocked and appalled at the behaviour of some broadcasters.

(Image: BBC)

Todd described being asked the question live on air as “completely inappropriate”.

She said yesterday: “I’m wondering what kind of answer he was expecting me to give. Was he expecting to reveal live on air that I had, was he expecting me to name someone?

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“And if I said no, and this is exactly what happened on the programme, they would say there is not much in the way of accusations, no one has actual detail, it’s just tittle-tattle.

“There’s a ton of research showing that about 50 per cent of women experience sexual harassment at work.

“You don’t really need to ask people directly live on air if they have experienced it to know that it is a problem.”

(Image: BBC)

She added: “The other thing I hated about it was the focus on the women. There is a salaciousness about it, asking women if they know the details or have experienced it.

“No one is going around asking men if they have ever harassed someone at work or been inappropriate at work. All the focus is on the victim.”

Todd told Brewer that his question was “completely inappropriate” but the presenter defended his approach. He said on the programme after the interview: “We don’t know if this is as serious a problem as the politicians are saying or not.”

Todd said: “My anger was dismissed as me being hysterical. Then there was the comment other people were OK with it.

“It didn’t feel like being sexually harassed but a lot of the things that go on in sexual harassment and went on around that interview … there were some parallels.”

(Image: Getty)

Other MSPs questioned on the show were Labour’s Rhoda Grant, Tory Rachael Hamilton and Green John Finnie.

Finnie said that they were not warned in advance about the questions.

He said: “I think the time for an apology has perhaps passed but I hope the BBC would reflect on the inappropriateness of the question, particularly given the circumstances.

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“This was live television and in the midst of understandable concern about inappropriate behaviour.

“I have to wonder what would be gained by asking that question in these circumstances.

“The discussion had been about the readiness of people to come forward and what would face them if they came forward with accusations. The question didn’t help, quite the reverse.

(Image: Getty)

“People may well feel they are likely to be interrogated when they come forward, rather than listened to and an appropriate response put in place.”

BBC Scotland said they had received two complaints about the interview but believed Brewer’s question had been “in the public interest”.

They said they were not investigating the complaints and had not apologised to Todd.

A spokesman said: “We were very aware that this was a highly sensitive subject of very real interest to the public – and that was one of the reasons we covered it in some depth.

“After a lengthy discussion, Gordon was trying to ascertain from all the contributors, who are all elected representatives, what experience and knowledge they had of how widespread the problem is.

“We believe ascertaining the scale of the problem was in the public interest and Gordon’s line of questioning was widely repeated elsewhere.”

Politicians including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson backed Todd’s response.

Sturgeon tweeted: “Many women – me included – have been asked this question on camera in recent days. It’s not appropriate.”

Other broadcasters have been criticised for asking politicians live on air if they have been victims of sexual harassment.

Peter MacMahon, ITV Border’s political editor, asked Labour MSP Monica Lennon: “And what about you... have you ever been sexually harassed?”

She replied: “I’ve been speaking to other women about this very question today and actually we’ve all agreed that it’s the worst question you could ask a woman.”

It is understood that MacMahon later sent Lennon a handwritten letter of apology, which she accepted.

Paul Holleran, Scottish organiser for the National Union of Journalists, said: “Given the sensitivities around sexual harassment and the personal nature of it, I would have thought it would have been appropriate to ask the people being interviewed in advance if they are comfortable being asked about it.

“Sometimes it is good journalism to flag up a sensitive question in advance.”

Human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar said last Sunday that women ranging from MSPs to interns had raised concerns about behaviour across the Scottish Parliament.

A confidential phoneline was set up by the parliament on Monday and

Scotland’s party leaders met on Tuesday to allegations of sexual misconduct at Holyrood.

The Scottish Government also announced they will carry out a review of how they deal with complaints of sexual harassment.