LABOUR’S “don’t mention the Brexit” complaint at Sky News’ election coverage has been dismissed by Ofcom.
The party criticised the broadcaster for describing the December 12 poll as the “Brexit Election” in some of its coverage, such as the banner used with guests’ names on-screen.
Labour complained that this gave “undue and unfair weight to the Conservative Party’s political agenda” – as it apparently implied that the December 12 poll was more about Brexit than other issues such as climate, housing or the NHS.
The complaint also appears a swipe at Boris Johnson’s “get Brexit done” slogan – which has attempted to show that voting Labour might further delay the UK’s departure from the EU.
As a broadcaster in the UK, Sky News must adhere to strict rules of impartiality enforced by OfCom.
‘IMPORTANT FACTOR’
But the watchdog has now rejected the complaint, arguing they had the “freedom of expression” to use the phrase.
“We considered that Brexit is an important background contextual factor which has been instrumental in shaping the debate within Parliament in the weeks and months leading up to the General Election,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
“In addition, given that the current extension to the Article 50 process runs out on 31 January 2020, the issue of what happens next in terms of the UKs relationship with the EU will be determined by the election result and the make-up of the next Parliament.
“Against this backdrop, we consider it a reasonable editorial judgment for Sky News to use the strapline‘The Brexit Election’to label its election programming.
“Further, we do not consider that the use of this strapline would in and of itself engage due impartiality considerations or indicate that Sky News is favouring any party or parties in the context of this particular election campaign.”
But Labour has not been best pleased by the rejection, coming hours before Jeremy Corbyn launched the Party’s manifesto in Birmingham today.
A Party spokesperson said: “This is a bewildering decision.
“And it means Sky journalists will have to continue to report on an election about a wide range of issues under the banner of a single issue chosen to suit a corporate agenda skewed to the interests of the Conservatives and their allies in the Brexit Party.”
