Outside of election periods the BBC does 3 sets of Party Political Broadcasts a year. The BBC Trust has just amended the criteria the corporation uses to decide qualification for these broadcasts, and award UKIP a place in each set of broadcasts in England and Wales. This was done on the grounds that whilst they only have one MP, they secured millions of votes in the general election and in the European parliamentary election the year before. At the same time the corporation is continuing to exclude the Green Party who, whilst like UKIP only have one MP, also received over a million votes in both the general and European elections.
According to the BBC, they've reconsidered their position on UKIP as in the run up to the EU referendum they think its important that the Eurosceptic parties voice is heard. The Green Party also its own distinctive view on the EU and is the only party that will make the case for using any renegotiation as a basis for reforming Europe in the interests of the common good to strengthen workers rights and fight inequality and climate change.
We demand that in recognition of the same criteria you used to give UKIP access to all three of these Party Political Broadcasts you also give at least some access to the Green Party and its 1.2 million supporters
Note -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/statements/party-political-broadcasts
Why is this important?
The EU referendum is already going to be dominated by the voices of fear and big business that dominate our media. By giving UKIP a further platform to espouse their divisive rhetoric the situation is only going to get worse.
The EU is a very flawed institution, it is undemocratic and overly bureaucratic and needs serious reform; but it also enshrines fundamental protection for people at work and the environment (among many other benefits). These are areas the Conservative are already attacking with their draconian Trade Union bill and their shameful attack renewable subsidies and the extension of fracking.
By once again excluding the Green Party and ignoring our rising support the BBC is not only acting undemocratically, but is excluding progressive voices and setting the frames of reference for the EU debate in an increasingly negative way.
This debate is going to be crucial to the future of society and needs to be as open, inclusive and democratic as possible. We need to ensure all views are heard, and stop them crowding out the viewpoints that care about the interests of ordinary people and our environment.
