Complaint
The Sadiq for Mayor campaign complained that the broadcast contained serious inaccuracies about the Mayor of London’s policies and their implementation, resulting in unfairness. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the ±«Óãtv’s editorial standards of accuracy and fairness and relevant regulatory standards.
Outcome
The ECU noted that political parties were principally responsible for the content of their Party Election Broadcasts. While it acknowledged there might be cases at the margin where it could be appropriate for broadcasters to intervene, it considered the importance of freedom of expression in the political arena meant that the margins must be set wide, and that the issues of accuracy raised by the complaint fell well within them. It also considered that the issues of fairness raised by the complaint were essentially re-characterisations of the issues of accuracy, rather than distinct matters which stood to be considered on their own.
Not upheld