Zac Goldsmith loses Ofcom battle with Channel 4 News

Complaints made to Ofcom by the Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith that he had been “unfairly treated” in two Channel 4 News programmes have been rejected in full by Ofcom.

The newly-elected MP for Richmond Park and North Kingston had been featured in a piece on 15 July last year investigating election campaign expenses claims. Mr Goldsmith had complained that he had been unfairly represented on the programme and on social media outlets and that he had not been given an appropriate opportunity to respond to the original report.

In summary, Ofcom found that:

1. Mr Goldsmith was given an appropriate and timely opportunity to respond to the allegations set out in the 15 July programme. Further, as the programme included Mr Goldsmith’s agent’s response and a response from the Conservative Party, as well as his own interview with Sky News, the broadcast fairly presented his response to the allegations.

2. Material facts relating to his opportunity to respond to the programme were presented fairly in the 15 July programme. The programme did not imply that Mr Goldsmith had chosen not to be interviewed by Channel 4.

3. Material facts relating to his opportunity to respond to the programme were presented fairly in the 16 July programme. Given that Mr Goldsmith was able to put forward his response to all of the assertions relating to his offer to contribute to the 15 July programme made by Jon Snow, the programme as broadcast was fair.

The full Ofcom report can be viewed here between pages 50-73

The editor of Channel 4 News, Jim Gray, said: “We have always maintained that our investigation into Mr Goldsmith’s election spending – and our dealings with him throughout – have been absolutely fair and balanced, so it is pleasing to see Ofcom’s research into his complaints reach the same conclusions.

“When you commit to asking awkward questions you accept that your findings may provoke criticism – so we welcome Ofcom’s thorough handling of the complaints, and their vindication of our journalism. At the centre of all of this remain important questions about the clarity and enforcement of campaign spending limits.”

In response, Mr Goldsmith released this official statement: “Despite eight months of deliberation, Ofcom has entirely missed the point of my complaint. Given some of its recent judgements, I assume I am not alone in being puzzled by its workings. What matters is that Channel Four’s allegations about my General Election campaign expenditure were dismissed by the Electoral Commission.”

The Electoral Commission decided in December 2010 that referral to the police for investigation in this case was not appropriate, however the Electoral Commission’s Director of Party and Election Finance, Lisa Klein, said: “We have written to Zac Goldsmith, and to his election agent David Newman, to express our concern about the way some of the election costs were apportioned.”

The full decision of the Electoral Commission can be seen here on their website.

Below is the interview in full which led to the Ofcom complaint along with the original report.