Complaint
This edition of Newsnight featured an interview with the British journalist and commentator Douglas Murray. A viewer complained the programme was biased because the interview was followed by a discussion in which panellists were allowed to criticise Mr Murray’s contribution without him being offered a response. The ECU considered the complaint against the BBC’s guidelines on Impartiality.
Outcome
Viewers of Newsnight expect robust debate as well as strong disagreements between guests. In the ECU’s view the overall conversation did not go beyond the sort of discussions which are common in a programme of this nature. Nothing in the challenges put to Mr Murray or the subsequent comments of the other guests had the effect of preventing him from expressing his views. He was afforded the time in which to lay out his position clearly, including explaining what he had meant by his comments on the UK needing “less Islam” and why he considered the proposition was a simple question of mathematics. Due impartiality did not require an exhaustive exchange of views and during the discussion Mr Murray’s position was summed up fairly and accurately by the presenter.
Not Upheld