Complaint
During a debate about President Trump’s climate policies a disagreement occurred among the participants over whether the think tank Policy Exchange was funded by money from oil companies. A viewer complained that the presenter failed to settle the argument by stating the allegation was true. The ECU considered whether the exchanges met the standards of due accuracy set out in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The ECU found the allegation was not a new one and whether true or not, wasn’t central to the debate about President Trump’s approach to climate change. In the context of a fast moving and live programme there was no requirement on the presenter to spell out the available evidence or for the BBC to take a view on the matter, in order for the programme to be duly accurate.
Not Upheld