Complaint
Fiona Bruce contradicted a member of the studio audience who said Vote Leave had been accused of breaking electoral law. A number of viewers complained that in doing so she misled the audience about the position of both Vote Leave and Leave.EU, then failed to challenge incorrect statements by some of the panellists, and that subsequent corrections on air and online did not fully acknowledge or correct the misleading impression created. Β
Outcome
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ explained that Ms Bruce had misheard the audience member, and to that extent, in the ECU’s view, the complaint was resolved with regard to Vote Leave. However it concluded that the audience was also left with the impression that Leave.EU had largely been exonerated. In fact it was fined the maximum of Β£70,000 for breaches of electoral law (reduced to Β£66,000 on appeal). Subsequent corrections did not sufficiently acknowledge this error, and to that extent the complaints were upheld.
Partly upheld
Further action
The programme has been reminded of the need for clarity in the framing of discussions on controversial matters.Β Β