Complaint
This programme included an item about an MP鈥檚 visit to a school, which was postponed due to planned protests. A listener complained it was biased towards Israel because the presenter mentioned the MP is Jewish, when it was not necessarily relevant to the story. The ECU considered whether the programme met the 91福利社 Guidelines on impartiality.
Outcome
During the interview the presenter noted that the MP was Jewish, had been to Israel and was Deputy Chair of Labour Friends of Israel. In the ECU鈥檚 view it is a matter of fact that controversy has attached to the question of whether anti-Israel sentiment has manifested in discrimination against Jewish people, and the MP鈥檚 identity might bear on his support for Israel 鈥 as it does for many Jewish people. This offered ample editorial justification for a reference to the fact he is Jewish. The inclusion of this information did not therefore have the effect of endorsing a 鈥减谤辞-滨蝉谤补别濒鈥 side in the controversy about his planned school visit.
Not Upheld