Complaint
One of the panellists in this edition of the programme was introduced as being “from The Equiano Project, which encourages freedom of speech and open discussion”. A viewer complained that this was inadequate and misleading, on the grounds that The Equiano Project “promotes harmful, racially divisive narratives that go beyond healthy debate”, and that it was inappropriate for a speaker from such an organisation to be included in the programme. The ECU considered the complaints in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
Irrespective of the complainant’s opinion of The Equiano Project, the ECU noted that the programme did not deal with topics in which the organisation has a campaigning interest, and considered the views expressed by the panellist in question fell well within the parameters of a series where viewers expect a wide range of political viewpoints to be debated. The ECU found no grounds for concluding the panellist should not have been invited to participate, or that she had been misleadingly introduced.
Not upheld