Whistleblower programme was fair, rules Ofcom

THE BROADCASTING watchdog Ofcom has dismissed complaints against a BBC Panorama programme on antisemitism in the Labour Party.

Made by investigative reporter John Ware, it featured interviews with former staff members of the party who spoke of its problems in dealing with antisemitism.

The BBC cleared the programme of any breach of editorial guidelines after receiving complaints, including a lengthy protest by Labour.

Subsequently, 28 unidentified complainants went to Ofcom — although Labour is understood not to have referred the case to the regulator, having initially indicated it would do so.

Now Ofcom has decided there is no ground of pursuing any allegation of bias against the Panorama episode.

A spokesman for Ofcom said: “We assessed complaints from viewers who felt that this programme was factually inaccurate and biased. In our view, the programme was duly impartial. As well as highly critical personal testimonies, it included the Labour Party’s response prominently throughout, including in an interview with the Shadow Communities Secretary.”

But the regulator’s decision is being disputed by a London-based academic, who has launched a campaign to fund a legal challenge.

Justin Schlosberg, a supporter of Jewish Voice for Labour and a senior lecturer in journalism and media at Birkbeck College, claims the programme breached the BBC’s commitment to accuracy and impartiality.

Among his allegations are that it ignored the “hundreds” of Jewish Labour members who contested the views of people featured on the programme. By Wednesday, his Crowdfunder campaign had raised more than £14,000 towards his £25,000 target.

A Labour spokesman said, “We have not changed our view that the programme lacked balance and was unfair.”