Complaint
Towards the end of the programme, the presenter referred to a forthcoming edition as scheduled for the eve of the seventh anniversary of “the people's decision to leave the EU”. A viewer objected on the basis that the decision to leave the EU was that of the Government. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
While recognising that executive authority lay with the Government, the ECU noted that the Government of the day had put the question of leaving the EU to a popular vote on the basis that it would give effect to the outcome. In those circumstances the ECU saw no inaccuracy in referring to the decision to leave as “the people’s”.
Not upheld