Complaint
This edition included an interview with the Conservative Peer Lord Houchen in which the subject of protest marches against Israel’s actions in the Middle East was raised. A viewer complained Lord Houchen was not adequately challenged. The ECU considered whether the programme met the required standards for due impartiality set out in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
This programme took place in the immediate aftermath of the attack on a synagogue in Manchester in which two people died. It was also the day the Conservative Party annual conference began with a particular focus on the party and its policies. The guests, including Lord Houchen, considered in some detail the balance between the freedom to protest at Israeli actions in Gaza and the dangers of antisemitism and the targeting of Jewish communities in the UK. In the ECU’s view there was sufficient challenge to Lord Houchen’s views by the presenter in remarks she made about the importance of the right to protest which, taken together with interviews of the demonstrators also broadcast by the programme, was sufficient to ensure due impartiality was maintained.
Not Upheld
