Complaint
A viewer complained about comments made by Kemi Badenoch during an interview about Conservative Party policy on net zero. The viewer said her statement that “overall carbon emissions have increased” was inaccurate and misleading because UK carbon emissions have fallen significantly. The viewer argued the presenter should have challenged or corrected the claim. The ECU considered the complaint under the Editorial Guidelines for due accuracy.
Outcome
The ECU noted UK territorial greenhouse gas emissions have fallen over time but considered Ms Badenoch’s comments in the context of her wider argument that reduced domestic oil and gas production had led to increased imports from countries with higher associated emissions. It found her remarks could reasonably be understood as referring to the broader global effects of energy policy rather than solely to UK territorial emissions.
The ECU accepted some viewers may have interpreted the comments as referring to UK emissions and further questioning could have explored that distinction. However, it considered audiences would have understood Ms Badenoch was advancing a contested political argument in support of a change in Conservative Party policy. In that context, and taking the interview as a whole, it concluded the absence of further challenge did not materially mislead audiences and the programme met the standards required to achieve due accuracy.
Not Upheld
