Complaint
During an interview with Professor David Olusoga, the presenter asked him about the outcome of the trial of four people in connection with the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, in which Professor Olusoga had been an expert witness.聽 A listener complained that the view then expressed by Professor Olusoga had not been balanced by a contribution from another viewpoint.聽 The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 主播大秀鈥檚 editorial standards of impartiality
Outcome
It is not a requirement of impartiality that every expression of a partial view be followed by an expression of a differing view.聽 Although Professor Olusoga expressed warm approval of the verdict, the ECU judged that the presenter provided sufficient challenge to fulfil the requirements of impartiality, both in his initial question on the topic (which referred to a feeling among many that the jury had disregarded the law) and in connection with Professor Olusoga鈥檚 description of the verdict as 鈥渁 historic landmark in this difficult and painful journey that we鈥檙e having in this country鈥, to which he responded 鈥淲on鈥檛 it be more difficult and painful though if some people feel they鈥檝e got a right to remove statues they don鈥檛 like and other people find that threatening?鈥.
Not Upheld