Complaint
A viewer complained that Fiona Bruce lacked impartiality in her handling of the panellists, in particular in her assertion聽 that the SNP had 鈥渃ome off the rails鈥 since the programme last visited Scotland (which he also considered to be inaccurate). 聽The ECU considered whether the programme met 大象传媒 standards on due accuracy and impartiality.
Outcome
The 大象传媒 Editorial Guidelines allow presenters, reporters and correspondents to provide 鈥減rofessional judgements rooted in evidence鈥. In the ECU鈥檚 view Fiona Bruce鈥檚 comment about the SNP fell into that category and noted the SNP itself had publicly acknowledged the severity of the difficulties it faced, in terms arguably stronger than those used on the programme.
Overall, the ECU considered all sides in the debate that evening were fairly challenged and if it appeared the SNP were under particular scrutiny this was as a result of their position as the Scottish Government and of recent events, rather than an indication of bias by the presenter or the 大象传媒.
Not Upheld