Complaint
In this edition of the programme Laura Kuenssberg interviewed the Head of the Armed Forces Sir Tony Radakin. Β A viewer complained Sir Tony was asked about the war in Ukraine on Remembrance Day which in their opinion unduly politicised the occasion. Β The ECU considered whether the complainant had identified a breach of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ guidelines on impartiality.
Outcome
The ECU reviewed the programme and noted it considered a number of important political topics, in particular the forthcoming Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer who was interviewed about the prospects, as was his opposite number, Rachel Reeves. Β The programme also included a preview of the Remembrance Sunday event, which followed on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ One, in which Sophie Raworth interviewed an ex-serviceman who was blinded in the Falklands War. It then returned to the studio when Ms Kuenssberg interviewed Sir Tony.
The interview took in a number of subjects. Β Ms Kuenssberg mentioned the absence of Her late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth at the ceremony and asked Sir Tony to comment before questioning him about the war in Ukraine, defence spending, a report of an incident involving Russian aircraft firing a missile close to RAF fighters and the importance of respecting and responding to minorities in the Armed Forces.
In the ECU’s view, in the context of a programme such as Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg viewers would not have been surprised at the range of subjects covered in the interview and Sir Tony was entitled to make a connection between current events and Remembrance Day as he thought appropriate.
Not Upheld