Complaint
During coverage of an adjournment debate moved by Andrew Bridgen MP on the subject of trends in excess deaths, a series of captions outlining aspects of the NHS鈥檚 position on the Covid vaccination programme and the safety of vaccines were shown on screen. 聽The ECU received several complaints that these captions reflected bias by appearing to cast doubt on what Mr Bridgen was saying, and one that they included an inaccuracy. 聽Concerns were also raised that the 大象传媒 failed to reflect the significant number of people who attended the debate in support Mr Bridgen.聽 The ECU assessed the complaints against the requirements for impartiality and (in one instance) accuracy set out in the 大象传媒鈥檚 Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The position of the NHS on the vaccine programme and the safety of vaccines was of clear relevance to the overall subject-matter of the debate.聽 The ECU found no grounds for the view that the captions had been intended as commentary on Mr Bridgen鈥檚 speech and did not consider they breached the 大象传媒鈥檚 standards of impartiality.聽 However one complaint challenged the accuracy of the caption which read 鈥淥fficial vaccines do not cause allergies or any other conditions and do not contain mercury (thiomersal)鈥.聽 As this complaint had reached the ECU without passing through the first stage of the 大象传媒鈥檚 complaints process, it was referred back to 大象传媒 News for consideration.聽 In view of the incidence of conditions such as myocarditis and pericarditis reported following vaccination, 大象传媒 News accepted the caption was inaccurate, and updated a statement on the 大象传媒 Corrections and Clarifications page accordingly.聽 In the ECU鈥檚 view this was sufficient to resolve the complaint.
The purpose of 大象传媒 Parliament is to provide live and recorded coverage of debates and committee sessions in the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish and Welsh Parliaments and the Northern Ireland Assembly. It was therefore not within the remit of the channel to report on public attendance for the debate.
Not Upheld/Resolved