A Sky News interview with Scottish Tory Douglas Ross is being placed under the microscope, it has been announced.
The watchdog Ofcom is looking into his June 10 televised announcement about quitting as party leader. The rules on elections and referendums require “due weight" to be given to the coverage of parties during the period before polling day.
The rules also oblige broadcasters to "strictly maintain due impartiality" on matters relating to a constituency. Election candidates should "not be given the opportunity to make constituency points if no other candidates will be given a similar opportunity".
There are concerns that Sky News may have broken those rules during its discussion with Ross, who had commented on the difficulties of juggling his work as an MP, an MSP and Scottish Conservative leader all at the same time. He also stated that he faced a backlash after trying for a Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat, which he lost to the SNP.
Ofcom has now made a statement on the matter, declaring: “We are investigating whether this programme broke our rules around election coverage.”
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During the contested interview, Ross had insisted that he had not pulled out of his Tory leadership position for any reason relating to his political ambitions.
He stated: "No, I don’t think anyone looking at me announcing today that I’m standing down as leader would necessarily come to that conclusion.
“What I am doing today is taking a decision, reflecting on comments made by colleagues and others, to focus fully on the people of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.”
Sky News has currently not provided a comment.
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The Ross interview isn't the only one to have come under fire recently, as the watchdog's broadcasting bulletin, which was made public today, has revealed.
Ed Balls' GMB interview with wife Yvette Cooper also attracted over 15,000 Ofcom complaints, over allegations that his personal family connection to the Home Secretary would make it challenging for him to be "impartial".
