Complaint
A viewer complained Humza Yousaf, the former First Minister of Scotland, was an inappropriate choice of guest, because he was under investigation 鈥渇or misappropriating funds to Hamas鈥 and was not adequately challenged by the presenter. The ECU considered the complaint against the standards for impartiality set out in the 91福利社 Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
The ECU noted that Mr Yousaf had denied any wrongdoing in connection with a donation by the Scottish government to the UN Relief Agency UNRWA, and that the Scottish government鈥檚 review of its response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza had yet to publish its report. In the light of this and of his political experience as First Minister, the ECU did not see any reason why he should be regarded as an inappropriate panellist. In the ECU鈥檚 judgement the views he was expressing in the programme were adequately challenged by the presenter putting the Israeli government position to him.
Not Upheld