Resolution Statement 09263-19 Aitchison v Evening Times
Summary of Complaint
1. Ross Aitchison complained to the Independent Press
Standards Organisation that Evening Times breached Clause 1 (Accuracy) of the
Editors’ Code of Practice in an article headlined “Use this election to send
the SNP a clear message”, published on 2 December 2019.
2. The article was an opinion piece by a Scottish
Conservative & Unionist Councillor commenting on the SNP at the 2019
General Election. The article was a personal account of the Councillor’s
experiences of the Scottish Independence referendum and his opinions on
unionism and independence. The article claimed that “The watershed moment for
me was Alex Salmond loudly stating that ‘Scotland’s youth backs independence’.
This couldn’t be further from the truth.” It also stated that Labour had
promised to hold two referendums in 2020.
3. The article also appeared online in substantially the
same format.
4. The complainant said that the article was inaccurate in
breach of Clause 1. The complainant said that the article had not clearly
distinguished between comment and fact, nor had it made clear that it was
written by an elected Conservative Councillor, and was therefore in breach of
Clause 1(iv). Furthermore, he said that it was inaccurate to report that
Scotland’s youth do not back independence, as both independent polls and the
results of the 2014 independence referendum showed that the majority of under
35s wanted independence. He also said that it was inaccurate to say that Labour
had promised a second referendum when the Labour manifesto explicitly stated
that there would be no Scottish independence referendum in the early years of a
Labour government.
5. The publication said it did not accept that there had
been a breach of Clause 1. It said that the article had clearly been labelled
as a comment piece, and that the caption of the picture made clear that it had
been written by a Conservative Councillor. It said that “Scotland’s youth backs
independence” was the opinion of the columnist, and as the Prime Minister often
stated that Labour had promised two elections this was fair comment.
Relevant Code Provisions
6. Clause 1 (Accuracy)
i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading
or distorted information or images, including headlines not supported by the
text.
ii) A significant inaccuracy, misleading statement or
distortion must be corrected, promptly and with due prominence, and — where
appropriate — an apology published. In cases involving IPSO, due prominence
should be as required by the regulator.
iii) A fair opportunity to reply to significant inaccuracies
should be given, when reasonably called for.
iv) The Press, while free to editorialise and campaign, must
distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.
Mediated Outcome
7. The complaint was not resolved through direct
correspondence between the parties. IPSO therefore began an investigation into
the matter.
8. The publication offered to print the following
correction:
Euan Blockley's comment that Scotland's youth supporting
independence "could not be further from the truth" is his personal
view only.
Labour did not promise two referendums – however, the
Conservative Party claimed Labour would hold two in order to facilitate a deal
with the SNP.
9. The complainant said that this would resolve the matter
to his satisfaction.
10. As the complaint was successfully mediated, the
Complaints Committee did not make a determination as to whether there had been
any breach of the Code.
Date complaint received: 02/12/2019
Date complaint concluded by IPSO: 04/02/2020