Complaint
A listener objected to the inclusion of a guest in a discussion about Brexit because of her past views on the IRA’s bombing campaign in Britain. The ECU considered whether her appearance, and a failure to mention her background, amounted to a breach of editorial standards on accuracy set out in the ѿý Guidelines.
Outcome
The item was a preview of the first bilateral summit between the EU and UK since Brexit. Taking part were Nick Watt, Newsnight’s Political Editor, former Labour Westminster candidate and director of campaigning think-tank the Good Growth Foundation Praful Nargund and Baroness Claire Fox who was introduced as “Baroness Claire Fox, former Brexit Party MEP, now a non-affiliated peer and Director of the Academy of Ideas”. In the context of this debate, the ECU did not consider it was necessary for Baroness Fox’s views on the IRA to be mentioned in order for the item to be duly accurate. Viewers were given the information about her background most pertinent to the topic of the item.
Not Upheld