Complaint
The programme included an interview with the novelist and columnist Lionel Schriver about her latest novel which explores aspects of immigration and attitudes towards immigrants. A viewer complained that the interview closed with a contentious statement by Ms Shriver which the interviewer should have challenged instead of letting it pass. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of impartiality.
Outcome
At the end of the interview, in response to the interviewer asking whether the novel explored any positive aspects of immigration, Ms Schriver said “Certainly, you will find every argument for and against immigration under the sun in this book. It is willing to represent the negative, it is trying to illustrate for example, when you let people in who are fleeing the forces of disorder they bring the disorder with them”. The ECU recognised that some viewers might disagree with Ms Schriver’s point of view but considered that the BBC’s standards of impartiality do not require every controversial opinion to be challenged on every occasion, and saw no particular need for challenge in this instance.
Not upheld