We're complaining to the BBC
We’re one of over 30 organisations complaining to the BBC about their terrible question on climate change in the Conservative leadership debate.
In this week’s debate between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, just two minutes were devoted to climate change. Even worse, the candidates were asked for their opinion on what viewers at home could do to tackle climate change.
Both of these candidates are members of the cabinet. They could have been asked any number of substantive questions on their record in government, or their plans for their time as prime minister.
When the government’s own climate advisers have said they are failing, and the high court has ruled that we are not meeting our legally binding climate commitments, we couldn’t believe it when the candidates were asked such a question.
We’re proud to be one of over 30 organisations and individuals submitting this complaint to the BBC for asking such a terrible question on climate.
Join us to stay updated on our complaint to the BBC.
27th July 2022
Dear Andrew Alexander,
Irresponsible climate coverage in leadership debate
We are writing to you about what we perceive to be irresponsible coverage of climate change in the televised Conservative Leadership debate, ‘Our Next Prime Minister’, with Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, aired at 9pm on 25th July 2022.
We understand that there is pressure to cover all the issues that the public want answered by our future Prime Minister during a televised debate, but as a key issue for voters it is unacceptable that the climate crisis was framed as an issue solely for individuals, not the Government, and was skimmed over in just 2-3 minutes.
Candidates were asked ‘what three things should people change in their lives to help tackle climate change faster?’ The framing of this question is wholly inappropriate, not just because it relegates the issue of climate change below others in the show which were framed as ‘governmental issues’ but because it reinforces the idea that solving climate change is an individual responsibility, rather than one which requires a response from the Prime Minister and their ministers. For this to take place the week after record temperatures in the UK, and with firefighters having the ‘worst day since the blitz’ is far below the standards we would expect from the BBC.
The purpose of a leaders' debate is to interrogate our future Prime Minister on their policy positions for vital issues so the public can make an informed choice about which candidate will do the best job for their country - this question failed to provide them with those answers. For this to happen at a time when the cost of living is driving millions into poverty, largely driven by fossil fuel prices and rising energy bills, is unacceptable.
There is no shortage of substantive issues both candidates could have been challenged on, given their recent or current senior positions in a government that - according to both its own independent climate advisors and high court judges - is comprehensively failing to produce plans able to meet its legally binding climate commitments. The BBC reported on both the Climate Change Committee (CCC) report and the High Court ruling - these could easily have been the topic of debate.
We would like to hear a commitment that the BBC will improve their coverage of the climate crisis in subsequent leadership coverage in the next few weeks, at this critical time for our country. We ask for a recognition that the question in the debate was inadequate, and the time allocation was too short - and a guarantee that at future leadership debates, such as in the general election, climate change will be treated as an issue of governmental, not solely personal responsibility.
Kind regards,
Max Wakefield, co-director, Possible
Katie White, Executive Director Advocacy and Campaigns, WWF
Chris Packham, Wildlife TV Presenter and Conservationist
Mary-Ann Stephenson, Director, Womens Budget Group
Hannah Martin & Fatima Ibrahim, Co directors, Green New Deal Rising
Pete Moorey, Head of Campaigns & UK Advocacy, Christian Aid
Dr David Wearing
Clifford Singer, Head of Communications and Digital, New Economics Foundation
Shaun Spiers, Executive Director, Green Alliance
Natasha Yorke-Edgell, Head of Movement Building, Economic Change Unit
Rosie Rogers, Head of UK Climate Campaigns, Greenpeace UK
Fran Boait, Executive Director, Positive Money
Nick Bryer, Head of European Campaigns, 350.org
Mathew Lawrence, Founder and Director, CommonWealth
Gabriel Davalos, Head of Campaigns and Communications, Uplift
Ellie Mae O’Hagan, Director, CLASS
Jo Wittams, Interim Executive Director, The Equality Trust
Jolyon Maugham, Director , Good Law Project
Ben Margolis, Interim Director, The Climate Coalition
Tom Randall, Senior Communications Manager, Rethinking Economics International
Paul Hebden, Acting Executive Director, Tax Justice UK
Sam Ward, Climate Cymru Manager, Climate Cymru
Rosemary Harris, North Sea Just Transition Advocacy Lead, Platform London
Isaac Beevor, Co-Director, Climate Emergency UK
Shanon Shah, Director, Faith for the Climate
Sarah McMonagle, Head of External Affairs, CPRE, the countryside charity
Dr Salamatu Fada, Director, North Wales Africa Society/Climate Cymru
Neil Thorns, Director of Advocacy, Communications and Education, CAFOD
Will Snell, Chief Executive, Fairness Foundation
Suzanne Iuppa, Consultant & Mentor, Renew Wales
Darren Moorcroft, Chief Executive, Woodland Trust
Oliver Sidorczuk, Campaign Manager, Zero Hour
Emma Knight, Environment & Sustainability Officer, FAN Community Alliance
Jake Dubbins, Managing Director, Media Bounty & ACT Climate Labs
Sarah Mitchell, Chief Executive, Cycling UK
Luke Murphy, Associate Director, IPPR
Clare Lyons, Director of Policy, Advocacy and Campaigns, Friends of the Earth EWNI
Amiera Sawas, Director of Programmes and Research, Climate Outreach