The Conservative Party is now in a massive row with Channel 4 over the broadcaster’s decision to “empty chair” Boris Johnson during its election debate on climate change last night.

Minister Michael Gove turned up on the night and offered to take his place, but the broadcaster said the invitation was for leaders only.

The party wrote to Ofcom saying placing an ice sculpture on the PM’s podium was a “provocative partisan stunt”.

Urging the regulator to take action against Channel 4, the Conservative Party accused the broadcaster of breaking its duty to be impartial and citing other alleged examples of bias.

In a letter to Ofcom, the party says Channel 4 News staged a “provocative partisan stunt, which would itself constitute making a political opinion in its own right” by substituting the PM with an ice sculpture.

Tonight I went to Channel 4 to talk about climate change but Jeremy Corbyn and Nicola Sturgeon refused to debate a Conservative #climatedebate pic.twitter.com/NY1dQOzCgN

— Michael Gove (@michaelgove) November 28, 2019

Tory sources have also been briefing journalists that: “if we are re-elected we will have to review Channel 4’s Public Services Broadcasting obligations”.

Channel 4’s public service broadcasting licence is up for renewal in 2024 and the Tories could potentially argue it is just a propaganda station not worthy of receiving public monies.

Former Conservative culture minister Ed Vaizey – who is not standing for re-election as an MP – said it was “perfectly legitimate” for the party to complain to the regulator about their lack of representation in the debate.

But he said it was not “sensible” for political parties to “threaten” broadcasters and he would be “disappointed” if the Conservatives took the matter any further after the election.

In a letter to Ofcom, he added: “Boris Johnson has banned the Daily Mirror from its battle bus, ducked the Andrew Neil interview and now attempted to bully Channel 4.”

Mr Gove, a former environment secretary, said he was disappointed not to be allowed to take part in the climate debate, adding: “We have a record we are proud of and we want to defend.”

A precedent had been set before when Amber Rudd stood in for then Prime Minister Theresa May during a debate.

Channel 4 also replaced Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage with ice in the hour-long programme.

Channel 4 News editor Ben de Pear said: “These two ice sculptures represent the emergency on planet earth, not in any human form but are a visual metaphor for the Conservative and Brexit parties after their leaders declined our repeated invitations to attend tonight’s vital climate debate.”

 

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