Complaint
A listener complained that an item on housing was guilty of “blatant bias” in stating as a fact “the opinion that not enough homes are being built” and in including contributions only from those in favour of building new homes while ignoring such issues as the effect of new construction on carbon emissions. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of impartiality.
Outcome
The item’s focus was on the availability and cost of rental properties, and the selection of contributors reflected that focus and represented an appropriate range of viewpoints on the issues under discussion. The presenter’s references to undersupply of new homes as one of the causes of rising rents was a conclusion based on numerous studies of the UK housing market rather than a statement of personal opinion.
Not upheld