THE SNP’s depute leader has once again demanded answers from the BBC after research by the Sunday National revealed one of its flagship political panel shows did not feature a single SNP politician in the entirety of last month.

Keith Brown told us it was “frankly outrageous” that no representative from Westminster’s third largest party had featured at all on Newsnight in February.

A total of 69 politicians were on the BBC’s late-night political show last month. They included 36 from Labour, 24 Tories, six from the newly formed Independent Group, two LibDems and one from the DUP. Not a single SNP politician, however, was invited on to the show.

“These figures are frankly outrageous,” Brown said. “We want answers from the BBC on why they continue to ignore Scotland like this. We are not prepared to allow Newsnight to edit us out in this way.”

Only last month, the SNP depute leader accepted an apology from the BBC after their Newsnight backdrop was emblazoned with large logos of the Tories, LibDems, Labour and Ukip – but not the SNP.

READ MORE: BBC issues apology after SNP's omission from Newsnight logo

Brown added: “Newsnight apologised for missing the SNP logo off their backdrop, where’s their apology for failing to invite a single SNP politician on the programme last month?

“BBC panel selection processes are a joke, and programmes like Newsnight need to try and break out of the metropolitan bubble in which they are so firmly stuck.”

The BBC cited attempts to reflect “the news agenda” as the reason for failing to include any SNP politicians on the show.

A spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing fair representation for all political parties across our programming. As a topical news programme, Newsnight’s most recent guests have reflected the news agenda over the last few weeks which has been heavily dominated by splits and tensions in the Conservative and Labour parties, as well as the continued debate about anti-Semitism.”

The latest controversy comes after The National revealed on February 14 that an SNP minister’s statement on Question Time had been heavily edited.

Fiona Hyslop’s response to an ex-Ukip candidate’s angry Unionist rant, which lasted one minute and eight seconds, was cut down to just seven seconds.

The BBC subsequently issued a briefing to Scottish politicians which rejected allegations of “secret editing”. SNP minister Paul Wheelhouse warned the broadcaster that its political output was “becoming like Fox News”.

READ MORE: BBC told to clean up its act over Scottish 'Question Time' audience invites

BBC Scotland was again in the spotlight a week later as The National discovered the broadcaster had invited hardcore British nationalist group Scotland in Union to make its members aware of the application process for Debate Night, its new Question Time-style show, without contacting any pro-independence groups.

Three Yes-backing groups were contacted by Debate Night producers after our story was published.

Accusing the BBC of “desperately trying to cover its tracks”, Brown urged the broadcaster to “clean up its act”.