Complaint
This bulletin included a report on reactions to Nick Robinson’s interview with Nigel Farage broadcast the previous evening. The introduction to the report said “There’s been criticism of Nigel Farage here in the UK for making remarks excusing President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine”. A viewer complained that this misrepresented the remarks in question, and that Mr Farage had in no sense excused the invasion. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
Mr Farage had restated his view that President Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine was a consequence of the eastward expansion of NATO and the EU, and said President Putin had “used what we’ve done as an excuse” for military action. The ECU agreed that this was not the same as “excusing” President Putin’s decision, and that the phrasing of the introduction gave the misleading impression that Mr Farage considered the invasion of Ukraine to be justifiable.
Upheld
Further action
The finding was reported to the Board of BBC News and discussed with the programme-makers concerned.