Broadcast of primary school pupil telling Tristram Hunt he would vote Ukip may have broken child welfare rules and could have sparked backlash, claim critics

This article is more than 5 years old

This article is more than 5 years old

The BBC is to be investigated over a news bulletin that featured a child saying he backed Ukip “to get all the foreigners out”.

The child’s comments were broadcast by BBC regional news programme East Midlands Today during an item on Labour MP Tristram Hunt’s visit to a primary school in the runup to the general election.

During the programme, which aired at 6.30pm on 15 April, Hunt asked a 10-year-old which party he supported.

The child responded that he would vote for Ukip because he wanted to “get all the foreigners out of the country”.

Media regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into whether the BBC took due care of the welfare of the child because he was identifiable and his remarks could cause a backlash.

“Ofcom has opened an investigation into a news item on BBC1 East Midlands to establish whether due care was taken of the welfare of a child who appeared in the programme,” said a spokesman for the regulator.

Under Ofcom’s rules broadcasters have a duty of care for under-18s appearing in programmes.

According to section 1.28 of the broadcasting code “due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under 18 who take part of are otherwise involved in programmes”.

Section 1.29 adds that “people under 18 must not be caused unnecessary distress or anxiety by their involvement in programmes or by the broadcast of those programmes”.