The BBC has upheld a complaint against a journalist who referred to trans women as “males” – with the broadcaster ruling that the presenter broke impartiality rules.
Veteran journalist Justin Webb, presenter of the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4, and BBC’s former North American editor, was presenting on Radio 4 last August when he said “trans women, in other words, males” – sparking a complaint from a listener.
The listener complained that the comment meant that Mr Webb had given his personal view on gender identity, rather than remaining neutral. The 63-year-old made the remark during a discussion on whether male-born trans chess players had an advantage over women.
Britain’s national broadcaster’s editorial complaints ruled that the presenter “gave the impression of endorsing one viewpoint in a highly controversial area.”
A ruling published by the taxpayer-funded broadcaster’s complaints unit at the end of last week said it was not in a position to determine the journalist’s personal opinion on the issue, but that this was not necessary in order to judge whether Mr Webb was in breach of impartiality rules.
“The ECU understood Mr Webb’s intention in using the phrase ‘trans women, in other words males’ was to underline the question arising from the FIDE guidelines but noted a press line issued at the time included an acknowledgement that his phrasing did not convey an entirely accurate impression,” the ruling read.
“In relation to impartiality, however, the ECU considered it could only be understood by listeners as meaning that trans women remain male, without qualification as to gender or biological sex, and that, even if unintentional, it gave the impression of endorsing one viewpoint in a highly controversial area. It therefore upheld this aspect of the complaint.”
The ECU said this finding has now been “discussed with Justin Webb and the Today team”.
Mr Webb has previously said that people “shy away” from the subject of gender identity, alluding to the Tavistock gender clinic scandal, because they are “afraid of bullying or being bullied.”
Speaking to the Independent Newspaper in October, Mr Webb said: “Everyone is genuinely terrified, but we’ve got to be able to speak freely about these things.”
Defending Mr Webb, campaign group Sex Matters spokesperson Fiona McAnena told The Telegraph newspaper: “The BBC has lost sight of its statutory duty, as the national, tax-payer funded broadcaster to be impartial. Webb’s position is factual, and reflects the views of most UK TV licence holders.”
“This is shocking behaviour from the BBC, which is obliged by its charter to be accurate and without bias,” Sex Matters said.
Nile Gardiner, former aide to Margaret Thatcher, hit out at the broadcaster over the decision, calling it “Orwellian,” as he accused the BBC of “reprimanding a journalist for the crime of telling the truth.”
The Orwellian BBC.
The BBC is reprimanding a journalist – for the crime of telling the truth
Justin Webb made an indisputable statement of fact about trans women. So why is he in trouble for it?https://t.co/NLmLLtoeUC
— Nile Gardiner (@NileGardiner) March 2, 2024
Meanwhile, Maya Forstater, a British researcher who lost her job for tweeting about biological sex, and was later awarded £100,000 in compensation, described the BBC’s decision to uphold the complaint against Webb as “absolutely nuts.”
BBC upholds complaint against Today's Justin Webb for saying "trans women are male"
This is absolutely nuts.
The very first step in being able to understand this issue is to work out "trans woman" and "trans man" mean.
"trans women" are malehttps://t.co/DXqSVHfTNz
— Maya Forstater (@MForstater) February 29, 2024
Journalist Peter Hitchens, meanwhile, also highlighted the ruling, as he called for an independent complaints tribunal to be established at the broadcaster, writing on X:
“It is interesting to see what the BBC ‘Executive Complaints Unit’ upholds ( it has airily rejected almost all my complaints to it, of blatant leftist bias) . If the BBC is to survive, a genuinely independent complaints tribunal has to be created.”
It is interesting to see what the BBC 'Executive Complaints Unit' upholds ( it has airily rejected almost all my complaints to it, of blatant leftist bias) . If the BBC is to survive, a genuinely independent complaints tribunal has to be created. https://t.co/9FAcplgBvn
— Peter Hitchens (@ClarkeMicah) March 1, 2024
The ruling comes just days after the BBC was blasted over its “outrageous” coverage of a transgender cat killer. Male born Scarlet Blake was jailed for 26 years last month for a fatal attack on a man as he was walking home from a night out in Oxford, and the killing of a cat, which she dissected and blended months beforehand.
In its initial reporting of the sentencing, the broadcaster failed to disclose the fact Blake was transgender, leading to outcry. Political commentator Patrick O’Flynn described the viral clip of the BBC’s report as “so outrageous I can barely breathe,” describing the BBC’s coverage as a “flat out lie.”
This is the clip. It's so outrageous I can barely breathe! We're paying for this shit. This shit runs a "Verify" unit and yet allows a flat out lie to be broadcast in its name on a flagship news programme. https://t.co/7nudB5a57g
— Patrick O'Flynn (@oflynnsocial) February 26, 2024
JK Rowling also hit out at the media over its coverage of Blake’s sentencing, writing on X: “I’m sick of this s**t” in response to Sky News describing Blake as a woman.
“This is not a woman,” she wrote. “These are #NotOurCrimes.”