THE new head of Creative Scotland has said the BBC must improve its relationship with the Scottish Government.

Richard Findlay, who was appointed to the publicly-funded arts agency a week ago, said the BBC should "look at itself" following criticism from Alex Salmond and Yes campaigners in the run-up to the referendum.

The 71-year-old former STV chairman voiced concern at the corporation's sometimes tense relationship with the SNP government but said he was hopeful it could be improved.

He said: "Politicians are always sensitive about the media and the fact is the BBC can't be in thrall to any particular political organisation.

"There is always a difficult line to walk; we certainly walked it at STV.

"The BBC could look at itself a little more carefully sometimes. Sometimes it does get tied up in its own bureaucracy."

He added: "The relationship between the BBC and the Scottish Government needs to improve. The BBC needs to work on that too, not just the Scottish Government."

In the days before the referendum, the BBC's political editor was accused of heckling Mr Salmond at a press conference.

Following the incident, the former First Minister publicly questioned "the nature and balance of the coverage".

Several hundred Yes supporters later protested outside BBC Scotland's Glasgow HQ, carrying banners demanding the sacking of "the liar" Mr Robinson.

It was one of a number of demonstrations at the studios by independence supporters.

The BBC, which maintains its referendum coverage was fair and balanced, declined to comment.

Blair McDougall, the former campaign director of Better Together, described Mr Findlay's comments as "odd".

On Twitter, he said: "The job of BBC is to hold politicians to account, not to seek good relations with one party."

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