Broadcasting Complaints Commission And Derbyshire County Council

EDM number 1183 in 1993-94, proposed by Harry Barnes on 09/05/1994.

That this House deeply deplores the refusal of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission to entertain the complaint lodged by Derbyshire County Council against the Conservative Party political party broadcast on 6th April, which was a broadcast described by the Conservative opposition group leader on the Derbyshire County Council as basically inaccurate; further notes that the Broadcasting Complaints Commission judges that it is inappropriate to entertain the complaint because it relates to an attack made in a party political broadcast by one political party on another, the validity of which should be dealt with by political debate and not by way of an adjudication by the Commission; believes that this judgement effectively endorses the blatant peddling of untruths in such broadcasts; further believes that this judgement, the announcement of which was delayed until after the close of polls in the local elections, shows the Broadcasting Complaints Commission to be a toothless watchdog that has discredited itself by this decision and which appears to be incapable of setting standards of truthfulness and decency; and is concerned that, unless dealt with firmly by bodies such as the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, the smears and untruths broadcast on 6th April will become the all too common currency of political debate, akin to that of the United States of America, and that this will further fuel an increasing cynicism about politics.

This motion has been signed by a total of 36 MPs.