November 28, 2019
The Conservative Party has lodged an official complaint to broadcast regulator Ofcom over Channel 4 News’ decision to empty-chair Boris Johnson and replace him with an ice sculpture in an election debate on Thursday night.
Channel 4 Debate: Tories Make Official Complaint After Boris Johnson Replaced By Ice Sculpture
The hour-long Emergency On Planet Earth programme was meant to be a chance for each of the party’s leaders to set out their plans to tackle climate change but the PM and the Brexit Party’s Nigel Farage declined to appear.
In a tweet posted before the show, Channel 4 News revealed two ice sculptures would take their place.These two ice sculptures - which represent the emergency on planet earth - will take the place of Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage tonight after they declined our invitation to attend a party leaders' #ClimateDebateTune in at 7pm on 4 and here on Twitter: https://t.co/GXl7XiFbgApic.twitter.com/niPE5MLdGV— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) November 28, 2019In a letter to Ofcom, Tory comms chief Lee Cain lodged an official complaint, stating the Conservative’s offer of allowing Michael Gove to take the PM’s place had been turned down.
The subsequent decision to empty-chair Johnson would “deprive the Conservative Party of any representation and attendance” in the debate, Cain wrote.The letter then went on to address the ice sculptures:“It has even been reported that Channel 4 has commissioned an ice sculpture of the prime minister to represent the Conservative Party.
“Were this the case, this would represent a significant breach of the Code through such a provocative partisan stunt, which would itself constitute making a political opinion in its own right. 
“This would constitute a breach of para7.1 of the Code (“Broadcasters must avoid unjust or unfair treatment of individuals or organisations in programmes”).”The letter to Tim Suter, chairman of the Ofcom Election Committee, said this “is part of a wider pattern of bias by Channel 4 in recent months”.
Events on Thursday night took another turn for the surreal when it emerged Johnson’s dad had offered to take his son’s place in the debate.
Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear, tweeted a photo of Stanley Johnson with Michael Gove at the studio where the debate was taking place.
De Pear wrote: “In a last ditch attempt ⁦Boris Johnson has sent his two wing men best friend ⁦Michael Gove and dad Stanley Johnson to argue their way into a programme intended only for leaders. they were lovely and charming but neither are the leader #climatedebate.”In a last ditch attempt ⁦@BorisJohnson⁩ has sent his two wing men best friend ⁦@michaelgove⁩ and dad Stanley Johnson to argue their way into a programme intended only for leaders. they were lovely and charming but neither are the leader #climatedebatepic.twitter.com/3TdGT3Q4ZJ— Ben de Pear (@bendepear) November 28, 2019A Conservative source later told BuzzFeed News that if the party wins the coming election it will reassess Channel 4’s public service broadcasting licence.
“If we are re-elected, we will have to review Channel 4’s Public Services Broadcasting obligations,” the source said.
“Any review would of course look at whether its remit should be better focused so it is serving the public in the best way possible.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, Plaid Cymru’s leader Adam Price and Green co-leader Sian Berry agreed to take part.
Asked on Wednesday whether a Conservative minister, such as former environment secretary Michael Gove, could attend the Channel 4 debate instead of Johnson, a spokeswoman for Channel 4 News said: “Michael Gove is not the party leader.”Tonight I went to Channel 4 to talk about climate change but Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon refused to debate a Conservative #climatedebatepic.twitter.com/NY1dQOzCgN— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 28, 2019On Thursday night Gove – who was environment secretary until this summer – posted a video of him talking to Channel 4 staff about whether he could stand in for Johnson.  
“All the other parties will be represented and I just think it’s only fair if we have a Conservative voice there as well,” Gove can be seen saying in the video. 
However, he was not allowed to take part in the debate. Gove said he was rejected by the editor of Channel 4 and the leaders of the other parties taking part. 
“They do not want a Conservative on the platform,” Gove said.
“They wouldn’t accept a Conservative voice. And that means that the ideas we have on the climate emergency, the policies we have to have a cleaner, greener planet won’t be explored tonight.” I just want to check the facts here.We sent someone to represent the @Conservatives but you allowed the other party leaders to veto their inclusion in the debate?During the regulated General Election period?— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) November 28, 2019Meanwhile, Tory Party chairman James Cleverly tweeted de Pear: “I just want to check the facts here. 
“We sent someone to represent the Conservatives but you allowed other party leaders to veto their inclusion in the debate? During the regulated general election period?”
But at the end of the programme, Channel 4 News presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy said the invitation for Johnson and Farage to come and debate the climate emergency “remains open”.
He added: “Thank you to all our party leaders who came tonight. Thank you also to Michael Gove from the Conservative Party who did come here, but sadly, as we made clear from the start, this debate was for leaders only and our leaders were only prepared to debate other leaders.
“Our offer to Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage to come here and discuss the climate emergency remains open.”Related... Boris Johnson Refuses To Commit To Andrew Neil BBC TV Grilling Defiant Jo Swinson 'Staying True To Values' Despite Plummeting Poll Ratings Will Boris Johnson’s ‘Ant Man’ Tactics Get Him The Majority He Craves?
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Ruby Franke’s Husband REVEALS Alleged Rules He Had to Follow at Home | E! News
March 28, 2024
_mU-3lE2QwI
#KenanThompson speaks out following the #QuietonSet documentary. (🎥: Tamron Hall Show) #shorts
March 28, 2024
8AGP-Gfw_Ek
King Charles Shares "Great Sadness" at Missing Royal Appearance | E! News
March 28, 2024
lyizFqf1kQY
Martha Reeves Walk of Fame Ceremony
March 27, 2024
QzyezumEPtQ
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
Montell Jordan Dishes On Young MC Wedding, 'This Is How Date Night' Plans | TMZ
March 28, 2024
G3SMExj-qio
Davina Potratz Says TV Not Helping 'Selling Sunset' Relationship Woes | TMZ
March 28, 2024
D4piy4GNm4k
Logan Paul Rips Graham Bensinger Over Documentary, You Promised Apple TV+ | TMZ Live
March 28, 2024
NiSDpZhZklQ
Prince William pinned royal medal to Spice Girl Mel B’s boobs #shorts
March 28, 2024
O1cQ0UW9pco
Jennifer Garner shares ‘hard’ part of raising her and Ben Affleck’s kids
March 28, 2024
3Q7mZaVUdgc
50 Cent's ex Daphne Joy named as an alleged sex worker in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawsuit #shorts
March 28, 2024
yhLFI8DG9rM
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
28
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
PSG W - Hacken W
28
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Barcelona W - SK Brann W
27
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Chelsea W - Ajax W
27
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Lyon W - SL Benfica W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.