Sky News breached Ofcom rules with Douglas Ross election interview

Ofcom has ruled that Sky News breached broadcasting rules during an interview with former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross in June.

The watchdog found that Ross made constituency-specific comments about Aberdeenshire North and Moray East during a discussion about his resignation as Scottish Tory leader.

The breach occurred on June 10, 2024, when Ross was given the opportunity to make local campaign points without other candidates being offered similar chances to speak.

Ross had appeared on Sky News to discuss his forced resignation amid controversy over his decision to stand for Westminster, despite previously insisting he would focus on Holyrood.

During the interview, Ross made specific references to Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, describing it as a “key seat”.

He characterised the local contest as a straight choice between the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish National Party (SNP).

While Sky News hosts focused on general political matters, Ross repeatedly steered the conversation towards his local constituency campaign.

Ofcom found these comments breached broadcasting rules as they promoted his candidacy without other candidates having the same opportunity.

Section 6.11 of the broadcasting code states candidates must not be given opportunities to make constituency points about their electoral area when other candidates won’t have similar chances.

Sky News attempted to remedy the breach by broadcasting a profile of Aberdeenshire North and Moray East on June 17, where all candidates were listed and could speak on local issues.

However, Ofcom ruled this wasn’t sufficient to resolve the matter.

“Ofcom has consistently stressed the importance of ensuring compliance with section six of the code during elections and referendums,” the watchdog stated.

The regulator noted it had made this clear in numerous communications to broadcasters ahead of election periods.

Ofcom’s investigation found that while Ross was “in part making a general point” about national contests, he specifically contextualised this within Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.

The watchdog determined Ross’s comments focused on establishing his commitment to the area and characterising the local contest.

Sky News had argued Ross’s remarks were “generic points about the political landscape of Scotland” but Ofcom disagreed with this assessment.

A Sky News spokesman said: “Sky News takes enhanced regulatory compliance during an election period incredibly seriously. We engaged quickly with Ofcom to mitigate any potential breach and have reviewed our training and guidance as a result.”