Complaint
A listener complained this edition failed to offer unbiased coverage on the contested issue of a proposed ban on pro-Palestine marches. The ECU considered the complaint against the standards for impartiality set out in the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
This edition was broadcast on the day of a raised terror alert in the UK, following the stabbings of two Jewish men in Golders Green, and the programme’s focus was on the reaction of the British Jewish community (including reports on how it felt to be Jewish in the UK) rather than the protests. The BBC’s commitment to impartiality is qualified by a respect for “fundamental democratic principles” – which would include the idea that people should not feel threatened because of their race or religion. Where aspects of the protests were discussed however, dissenting positions were included to ensure due impartiality was maintained.
Not Upheld
