Politician calls on BBC chiefs to review Question Time programme
Fiona Bruce introduces Question Time. Photograph: BBC. - Credit: Archant
An SNP MP has urged BBC chiefs to review the practices of Question Time after a row surrounding an audience member who called for immigrants to be stopped from coming to the UK.
The rant from the bigoted woman, later identified as a Tommy Robinson supporter, appeared on the programme's social media feeds without any of the challenges from the programme or without any fact checks or further context.
It attracted criticism from those across the political spectrum, with millions viewing the video on Twitter alone.
SNP MP Tommy Sheppard has now written to BBC bosses expressing concerns about the use of the clip on social media, particularly given its "factually incorrect assertions and an inciting tone on immigration".
He said: "I was deeply disappointed that the audience member was not challenged on these plainly incorrect assertions, but even more surprised that Question Time then clipped this contribution and posted to their Twitter site without any fact-checking or context.
"Question Time used to use their social media outlets to 'live' fact-check contributions from panellists and the audience, as well as giving context to each question asked by the audience. Rather than carelessly clipping these inflammatory contributions on immigration, I suggest that Question Time looks to reinstate the more informative and engaging fact-checking as part of their social media strategy."
You may also want to watch:
He continued to explain that the BBC's mission is to "inform, educate and entertain".
MORE: Question Time criticised for promoting 'racist' rant from programme
WATCH: 'Wrong in everything she said' - Presenter fact checks Question Time bigot
WATCH: Brexiteer tries to blame EU for recent floods
But he added: "The 'informing' and 'educating' seemed to be lacking from this flagship current affairs programme".
Most Read
- 1 European parliament agrees to add British overseas territories to post-Brexit tax haven blacklist
- 2 Pro-Brexit fishing campaigner says Boris Johnson's deal has left her with 'no fish'
- 3 Minister terminates interview after suggesting public's age and weight to blame for UK's high death toll
- 4 This picture of Boris Johnson on the phone to Joe Biden has caused a stir
- 5 Telegraph columnist blames Angela Merkel for Brexit
- 6 Boris Johnson to visit Scotland this week in attempt to shore up the union
- 7 Brexiteer calls for UK to save Eurostar - by buying it and renaming it 'Britstar'
- 8 Petition launched to cancel 'festival of Brexit' event in 2022
- 9 Brussels to launch campaign teaching younger Britons about the EU
- 10 Piers Morgan defends interview with Thérèse Coffey after accusations of 'bullying'
A senior SNP source added: "This latest incident shows Question Time is out of control - and it's high time the BBC got a grip of it."
At the time the BBC defended its decision to tweet the clip from the programme on social media.
A spokesperson said: "Last night's Question Time included a debate about immigration which featured a broad range of views from the audience members and panellists. We posted five clips of people expressing their different views on the issue, including a panellist responding directly to the views of an audience member".
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.