Complaint
A 聽viewer complained that day鈥檚 political panel lacked balance and a debate on Scottish independence contained 鈥渘umerous challenges to the principles of Scottish independence and the performance of the Scottish government鈥 without representation from the SNP. 聽The ECU considered whether the discussion met the 麻豆社鈥檚 standards for due impartiality.
Outcome
The Politics Live panel is made up of politicians and commentators, and changes daily. 聽In line with the 麻豆社 Editorial Guidelines, viewers would expect each panel to be politically diverse and for a wide 鈥渂readth and diversity of opinion鈥 to be reflected over the series. 聽On the day in question, the programme featured Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts, Conservative MP Ben Bradley and journalists Alys Denby and Sonia Sodha. 聽They discussed a number of issues including China, harmful online content and the England vs Wales World Cup match, as well as the right of the UK nations to hold independence referenda. 聽The previous week the Supreme Court had ruled such a referendum required the consent of the UK government 鈥 something Liz Saville Roberts had called a 鈥渄enial of democracy鈥.
Whilst the panel did discuss the legitimacy of the SNP鈥檚 campaign for another referendum,聽 the ECU noted it touched only once on the SNP鈥檚 record of government in Scotland, a debate swiftly cut off by the presenter on the basis the SNP was not present to defend its record. 聽Three of the four panellists argued against the need for a referendum in either Wales or Scotland, but the ECU concluded Ms Saville Roberts was entirely capable of defending the position of the nationalist parties. 聽In the context of a daily political programme discussing a range of issues there was no necessity to invite an SNP representative onto the panel for due impartiality to be achieved.
Not Upheld