Complaint
A listener objected to remarks about Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, claiming the presenter had falsely described him as being 鈥減artly responsible鈥 for riots in Southport. 聽The ECU considered the evidence on which this claim was based and whether the item met the standards for due accuracy set out in the Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
In an interview, the presenter had asked the Home Secretary whether video material of the kind posted by Mr Yaxley-Lennon could be regarded as an incitement to racial or religious hatred. 聽Mr Yaxley-Lennon had alleged the person suspected of killing three young girls was an immigrant to the UK. 聽In addition he shared a video that speculated that the suspect was a Muslim, something for which there was no evidence, but which was thought to have helped spread alarm. 聽In the ECU鈥檚 view this was sufficient to justify the presenter鈥檚 line of questioning.
Not Upheld