BBC News Impartiality: Government's Role
Debate between Simon Jupp and Hannah Bardell(10 months ago)
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Simon Jupp
My right hon. and learned Friend is making a great speech detailing some of the failures of BBC editorial policy. However, it is not just the BBC that does not describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation, other public service broadcasters such as ITV and Channel 4 do not do so either.
As politicians, we have to be a bit careful about asking broadcasters to bow to our whims as Members of Parliament when it comes to proscribing things and making editorial decisions. As a former BBC journalist myself, I think there is a real need to balance that with editorial justification and impartiality—and I am sure my right hon. and learned Friend will come on to that in his speech. It is important to recognise that other public service broadcasters also do not describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Hannah Bardell (in the Chair)
Before the right hon. and learned Gentleman continues, I remind Members that interventions should be short and brief.