OFCOM’S decision to back STV plans to axe dedicated news coverage for the north of Scotland is “the weakest of decisions in the face of the strongest of opposition,” the National Union of Journalists said today.

Announced in September, the broadcaster’s plan to cut £2.5 million of spending and slash 60 jobs by next year has faced opposition from the Scottish government, five political parties and STV journalists themselves, who took strike action as the Holyrood count got underway on May 8.

A survey of 3,235 viewers across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland, Moray, and Perth and Kinross also pointed to strong opposition among members the public potentially affected, with just 4 per cent backing STV’s cuts proposal.

In its submission to Ofcom’s statutory consultation, the NUJ warned: “Our members have no belief that any credible plan for the changes in the newsroom exists other than the impetus to make severe and immediate financial cuts. 

“They believe the proposals will result in worse news coverage for their communities in Scotland.” 

A deluge of responses meant that consultation — due to have concluded in February — was extended, but now, despite wide-ranging opposition, Ofcom has given the plan to centralise news coverage in the central belt the green light.

In a statement, the regulator said: “We are of the view that STV’s proposals to share more of its news programming across its two licence areas and remove the requirement to produce sub-regional opts will allow STV to continue to serve audiences with high-quality regional news.”

Welcoming the decision, STV’s chief executive Rufus Radcliffe argued it would “enable us to continue serving viewers with the high-quality, trusted national and regional news they expect from us.”

Unimpressed, NUJ Scotland national organiser Nick McGowan-Lowe said: “Ofcom’s remit is to act in the interests of viewers, yet today it has rubber-stamped plans that were supported by only 4 per cent of viewers in the north and north-east of Scotland.

“This is the weakest of decisions in the face of the strongest of opposition from viewers, politicians and STV’s own journalists.” 

He went on to warn: “Other channel 3 licence holders now know that they can take greater commercial risks in the knowledge that if they make losses, Ofcom will allow them to cut back on their public service broadcasting commitments to pay for it instead.”