Complaint
Two viewers complained that the selection of the studio audience was unbalanced and misleading as to the state of public opinion, showing hostility to anything connected with Brexit or Reform UK and little or no support for the Conservative representative Penny Mordaunt, and leaning generally towards the left.聽 The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 大象传媒鈥檚 editorial standards of impartiality and accuracy.
Outcome
As explained by the presenter at the beginning of the programme, the audience had been selected by the polling company Savanta to reflect voters from a wide range of backgrounds across the UK, and it included supporters of all seven of the parties participating in the debate as well as undecided voters, chosen with robust measures to ensure potential audience members did not conceal their true political preferences.聽 It was apparent from the audible and visible reactions to a number of Nigel Farage鈥檚 points that Reform supporters were significantly represented, and the audience鈥檚 applause for the criticism of Brexit by the SNP representative was unsurprising in the light of recent polling on the perceived effects of Brexit.聽 While the paucity of support for Ms Mordaunt was perhaps unexpected, the reactions of a studio audience are beyond the control of the programme-makers and dependent on a range of circumstances, not least the effectiveness with which the party representatives make their respective cases.聽 The ECU found no reason to believe the audience to have been either biased in its composition or misleading as to the state of public opinion.
Not Upheld