Press Release
Mayor calls for Channel 4 to drop Dispatches programme and instead adopt balanced approach to London election
21-1-2008 043
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, has today written to Andy Duncan, the Chief Executive of Channel 4 television, pointing out the Dispatches programme scheduled to be shown this evening is a clear attempt to influence the electoral process and in breach of the special impartiality requirements to maintain objectivity standards in broadcasting.
Mr Livingstone points out that the presenter of the Dispatches programme is totally biased and in no way impartial. On the contrary, he has openly stated that he is campaigning against the re-election of Mr Livingstone as Mayor of London.
Writing in today’s London Evening Standard, Mr Bright says: ‘The voters of London should kick Ken out when they go to the polls in May.’ He also argues: ‘I believe the time has come for the Labour Party to drop him as a candidate.’
Mr Livingstone says:
‘Given these unambiguous statements by Mr Bright, any claim that this programme is merely investigative journalism is untrue. It is clear that he is seeking to influence the electoral process. It would therefore be improper for Channel 4 to broadcast it unless similar programmes were commissioned concerning all other candidates in the election.
`To broadcast a programme made by someone campaigning that I should not be Mayor of London and for this alone to be broadcast would however be a clear breach of the special impartiality requirements to maintain objectivity standards in broadcasting.
`I would add it goes against all the tenets of public service broadcasting, with a due regard to fairness impartiality and balance, to have an hour long programme presented by an open and avowed campaigner against one of three main candidates in an election.
'Alternatively Channel Four could decide in the light of the statements by Mr Bright that the programme should not be broadcast, and instead I would be happy to appear, be interviewed by, or with, Mr Bright. This would allow a balanced television programme with both sides of the argument to be shown.
`Unless either of the above courses of action are followed I believe that Channel 4 should not broadcast this programme at 8 pm tonight.'
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