The logo and colours of Reform UK appeared on a strapline occupying the lower section of the screen at the point when the correspondent, who had previously been discussing the Mandelson vetting row, turned his attention to the party’s new policy on asylum.  In the ECU’s view there were legitimate editorial reasons for doing this, as it helped indicate a change of focus in the interview and contained key points of Reform UK’s proposals, delivered in a way familiar to viewers. 

Programme editors are entitled to use a variety of techniques to convey information, including party logos and colours, and it is legitimate for these to differ according to the requirements of each piece of output.  Given the brevity of the exchange, the ECU did not consider it likely viewers would have seen the graphics deployed as indicative of the BBC’s or the reporter’s view on the issue under discussion, or that the inclusion of the graphics amounted to a campaign statement for Reform UK. 

Not Upheld