George Galloway is taking legal action after his All for Unity party was excluded from the latest TV debate of the Scottish election campaign.
The former MP hit out at broadcaster STV for what he branded a " blatantly unlawful decision".
As well as being excluded from next week's TV debate - which will feature the leaders of the five parties currently represented at Holyrood - Galloway complained the channel was doing a one-to-one interview with Alex Salmond, the former Scottish first minister whose new Alba Party is running only on the regional list, as All for Unity is.
Announcing the move on Twitter, Galloway said that the broadcaster, which he dubbed "SNPTV", would now "face us in court".
The STV leaders' debate, which is taking place on Tuesday April 13, will see SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon take on Douglas Ross of the Scottish Conservatives, Labour's Anas Sarwar, Willie Rennie of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie.
An STV spokesperson said: "STV’s election coverage has been, and will continue to be, balanced and fully in accordance with the strict Ofcom guidelines upon which we make our editorial decisions."
Linda Grimes Douglas, head of news and current affairs at STV, said: "It's a hugely exciting time for Scottish politics and our team is primed and ready to bring viewers the most comprehensive coverage of Election 2021.
"From our leaders' debate and one-to-ones on Scotland Tonight, to analysis and on-the-night updates as part of special programming - alongside fully comprehensive ongoing updates from across the country on STV News At Six - we've got it covered."
