John Whittingdale told the corporation its track record was ‘not faultless’ and it needed to correct ‘erroneous views’ quickly, letters reveal

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The culture secretary warned the BBC that it must be impartial in covering the EU referendum and act quickly to tackle complaints about “erroneous views”, it has emerged.

John Whittingdale wrote to Rona Fairhead, chair of the BBC Trust, and broadcast regulator Ofcom, claiming that the corporation’s “track record in coverage of EU matters is not faultless”.

Whittingdale, who sent the letters in June but only made them public on Thursday night, said that the BBC and Ofcom should act on complaints about EU referendum coverage within 24 hours.

“The potential for unwarranted distortions to informed debate bears high risks,” he said. “And the longer that erroneous views or partial coverage are allowed to stand unchallenged or uncorrected, the greater the chance of public and democratic detriment.”

He said that Ofcom currently can “expedite” investigations into complaints about coverage in seven to 10 days, adding that it is in the public interest to slash this to as short a timeframe as possible.

“Where lapses occur, it is of course vital to the public that adequate and proportionate corrections are made in prompt order,” he said. “In light of the huge importance the public will place on the EU referendum, and the coverage of it by broadcasters, I would encourage Ofcom and the BBC Trust as the responsible regulators to consider whether your respective processes for redress for complaints which are upheld are as efficient and timely as possible.”

In 2005, an independent report commissioned by the BBC’s board of governors found that the corporation was guilty of “cultural and unintentional bias” in coverage of Europe.



The BBC Trust said that there will be an ability to fast-track complaints about BBC coverage during the referendum period.



“The chairman responded to this letter in June and set out the guidelines in place for coverage of sensitive issues such as the EU referendum, our complaints processes, and the ability to fast-track complaints during a referendum period,” said a spokeswoman for the BBC Trust.

In the letter to Whittingdale, sent in June, Fairhead pointed out that during the Scottish referendum the BBC set up a hotline for complaints by designated campaign groups.

However, she added that any appeal of a decision on a complaint generally takes seven to 10 days.

Fairhead highlighted an exceptional circumstance in the last London mayoral election when a candidate’s appeal was considered by the BBC Trust and the findiing published within one day.

“We understand that there will be a continued spotlight on the BBC’s European coverage and the [BBC] Trust will be active in exercising oversight of the BBC editorial standards,” she said.

