Complaint
A listener complained about an interview with the Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander arguing the presenter became increasingly angry and abusive in the course of the interview as he tried to get the minister to agree with him that the Prime Minster had misled or lied to parliament. The ECU considered the concerns against the Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ’s Editorial Guidelines on Impartiality and Harm and Offence.
Outcome
Politicians of all parties can expect thorough and sometimes forensic questioning when they appear on Today and are well aware that there is likely to be some robust cut and thrust as policies and ideas are tested and challenged by presenters. Often this kind of detailed scrutiny will be achieved by the presenter putting a contrary view to the politician’s, by playing devil’s advocate. This adversarial, robust challenge should not be confused with the presenter putting their own personal view to the politician, or being unfair or biased, as long as politicians of all parties are treated consistently.
The ECU found no evidence that the presenter on this occasion was abusive or that he was not duly impartial in his language, tone or lines of questioning. On the specific point raised by the complainant, the presenter was properly testing the minister against criticisms that had already entered public debate and inviting him to respond on behalf of the Government.
Not Upheld