Complaint
Two readers of this analysis of the European Election results complained that a bar chart headed βHow pro-Β and anti-Brexit parties have doneβ was misleading.
Outcome
The βP°ω΄Η-΅ώ°ω±π³ζΎ±³Ωβ bar, accounting for 34.9% of the vote, represented the combined vote for the Brexit Party and Ukip, while the βA²Τ³ΩΎ±-΅ώ°ω±π³ζΎ±³Ωβ bar, at 40.4%, represented the combined vote for the Liberal Democrats, the Greens, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Change UK, with the Conservative and Labour votes shown separately.Β In the ECUβs judgement, the headingβs reference to βpro- and anti-Brexit partiesβ was somewhat misleading in a context where parties identified as βΌυ°ω΄Ηβ were those in favour of a no-deal Brexit and varying proportions of the Conservative and Labour votes would have come from supporters of other forms of Brexit, and not enough context was given to guard against the inference that those in favour of Brexit had been outvoted by those opposed to it.
Upheld
Further action
The graphic has been removed. Teams have been reminded of the need to ensure that the wider context is reflected when reporting election data.