Complaint
A viewer complained two of the three guests on this programme argued against the idea of a blockade on arms sales on Israel, which led to the impression it would not work. The ECU considered whether the discussion met the standards of due impartiality and accuracy set out in the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The guidelines make clear impartiality is resistant to simple quantification. Where a programme, such as this one, covers a wide range of issues, the likelihood guests will take opposing views on all the topics covered is very low indeed. In this case the conversation was not limited to Gaza, and in the ECU’s view the discussion contained an appropriately wide range of views and perspectives.
The ECU considered there was the distinction between an undisputed fact and the expression of a view, a difference audiences understood. The prospect anyone would conclude, from the view of a political commentator, that it was an inarguable fact a UK arms embargo would be ineffective was therefore very limited
Not Upheld