Mr Polanski’s remarks came in the context of a question about leaflets the Green Party had issued in a recent byelection encouraging Muslim voters to vote Green to “punish” Labour over the Government’s position on Gaza.  Rather than responding directly, he expressed his thoughts about the conflict.  He was not challenged on the references to “genocide” but in the ECU’s view the presenters were seeking to get him to engage with the question he was being asked on the content of the leaflet.  Mr Polanski’s view was undoubtedly controversial, but audiences would have understood the clear distinction between a matter of settled fact and the view of a campaigning politician.

Not Upheld