Ofcom rejects Tory complaints over ice sculpture replacement on Channel 4 climate debate

The broadcaster's regulator have rejected a complaint formt he Conservative Party over Channel 4's decision to replace them with a melting ice scultpure in their climate debate. Photo: PA - Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

The broadcaster’s regulator has rejected complaints made by the Conservative Party over Chanel 4’s decision to replace them with a melting ice sculpture in their climate change debate.

The broadcaster’s regulator have rejected a complaint formt he Conservative Party over Channel 4’s decision to replace them with a melting ice scultpure in their climate debate. Photo: PA – Credit: PA Wire/PA Images

An ice sculpture was put in the places of Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage in the studio before the start of the General Election climate debate, which the Tories and Brexit Party refused to attend.

Ofcom, who regulate the standards of all broadcasters, have now rejected a complaint from the Tory party, saying that the sculpture was not supposed to “personally” represent Mr Johnson and that little editorial focus was given to the object throughout the debate.

The party had made a complaint after the program was first broadcast last week.

“Ofcom’s Election Committee has considered a complaint from the Conservative Party about The Channel 4 News Climate Debate,” the regulator said. “Broadcasters have editorial freedom in determining the format of any election debate.”

READ MORE: Channel 4 replaces PM with melting ice sculpture containing Tory logo during climate debate READ MORE: David Attenborough: ‘Shameful’ that Boris Johnson missed climate debateAfter consideration by their election committee, Ofcom added: “Depending on the circumstances, they may choose to proceed without having agreed the participation of a particular political party or politician, providing they take steps to ensure the programme complies with our due impartiality and elections rules.

“In this case, the Election Committee concluded that, across the one-hour debate and a subsequent news programme, Channel 4’s use of editorial techniques ensured that the Conservative’s viewpoint on climate and environmental issues was adequately reflected and given due weight.”