Complaint
A viewer objected to protesting Canadian truck drivers being characterised as opposed to Covid vaccination. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
In connection with a report of Sir Keir Starmer being mobbed while walking in Westminster by anti-vaccination protesters displaying the Canadian Flag, the Â鶹ԼÅÄ’s Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent said “They were actually there with a Canada flag because they're trying to copy rallies that have been happening in Canada, freedom protests that are against the vaccineâ€. This referred to a protest by Canadian truck drivers which had brought traffic in Ottawa to a halt. As the drivers were protesting against the introduction of vaccine passports rather than against vaccination as such, the ECU agreed that the Correspondent’s remark was potentially misleading. In answer to a subsequent question, however, she described the protestors as “opposed to vaccine passportsâ€. In the ECU’s judgement, this satisfied the requirements of accuracy.
Not Upheld