Complaint upheld against BBC for interview failing to identify critic of Palestine Action as a campaigner with ties to arms industry and the Israel lobby

[Sid Shniad]

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/26423900.bbc-complaint-upheld-lord-walney-palestine-action-interview/

The Herald                                                                                                                                                                   July 30th, 2026

BBC complaint upheld over Lord Walney Palestine Action interview

By Gabriel McKayJournalist

Police remove a protester taking part in a demonstration organised by Defend our Juries, in support of Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square, London. Picture date: Saturday October 4, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire (Image: Maja Smiejkowska/PA Wire)

A complaint has been upheld after the BBC failed to identify a critic of Palestine Action as a campaigner to ban it with ties to the defence industry and a pro-Israel group.

Following a High Court decision to overturn the ban on the direct action group, which had been proscribed as a terrorist organisation, News Now interviewed John Woodcock, the Baron Walney. The decision of the High Court was overturned on appeal.

Lord Walney was chair of Labour Friends of Israel from July 2011 to January 2013 and was formerly the paid chair of the Purpose Defence Coalition, a group which includes arms manufacturer Leonardo, which has also been the subject of pro-Palestine protests. He remains its engagement director, for which he receives payment.

He was introduced on the caption as a former Government advisor on political violence and introduced as “a critic of Palestine Action’s methods”.

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Read More:

• Arrests at protest outside Scotland Yard amid Palestine Action demo
• Palestine Action 'unlawful' ban verdict overturned on appeal
• Why the High Court quashed the Palestine Action ban

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A viewer complained that Lord Walney had a variety of interests in the subject-matter of the interview which should have been made clear to the audience.

The BBC's guidelines on impartiality state that it should not be assumed that contributors are impartial and "it may be necessary, when relevant, to give appropriate information about affiliations, funding or particular viewpoints".

Lord Walney has spoken during a Lords discussion on grassroots concussion guidance (Image: Archive)

The key test to be considered is whether the audience would be misled if such information was not made available.

The Executive Complaints Unit found that the caption and introduction would have been sufficient for Lord Walney "in many contexts".

However, "the ECU considered some of his interests, which included connections with the defence industry and his period of service as Chair of Labour Friends of Israel, were of such relevance the matter he was commenting on that viewers should have been given at least some information about them".

The complaint was upheld.

The finding was reported to the management of BBC News and discussed with the editorial team concerned.