The BBC had complained to the Conservative Party Headquarters last week that the advert was “completely unacceptable use of BBC content” which “distorts our output and which could damage perceptions of our impartiality.” After considering the British Broadcasting Company’s complaint, Facebook decided to ban the video from its social media platforms. 

In a statement, Facebook said: “We have removed this content following a valid intellectual property claim from the rights holder, the BBC.

“Whenever we receive valid IP claims against content on the platform, in advertising or elsewhere, we act in accordance with our policies and take action as required.”

The decision was welcomed by the BBC. Both Laura Kuenssberg and BBC News at Ten host Huw Edwards took it to Twitter to voice their relief on Sunday evening. 

Publishing a link to the news Facebook had banned the advert, Ms Kuenssberg tweeted: “Quite right too.”

Echoing the BBC political editor’s comment, Mr Edwards also wrote: “Good. My thoughts on this kind of stunt are unprintable.”

In response to the ban, the Conservative Party said: “All political parties make use of BBC content.

“We will be asking the BBC if in the interests of fairness they intend to complain about other political parties who use their content.”

In the video, the presenters’ voices are played over chaotic debates about Brexit.

One of the clips begins the Ms Kuenssberg saying the words “a pointless delay to Brexit”.

She has previously been accused by Labour supporters of showing bias towards the Tories.

The clip was taken from an archive news package from September when Mr Johnson rejected further delay to Article 50.

It then jumped to Huw Edwards who said there would be “another Brexit delay”.

DON’T MISS:
ITV debate: Richard Burgon suffers huge blunder with ‘nothing to say’ [VIDEO]
ITV debate: Exasperated Nigel Farage left with his head in his hands [INSIGHT]
ITV election debate: Who won ITV debate? VOTE in Express.co.uk poll [POLL]

His appearance was then followed by footage of opposition leaders.

Social media users commented on the video with mixed reviews.

One Twitter account said: “The party has been previously criticised for misusing BBC news stories in their ads, and for highly selective editing in their videos.”

Many used the advert to take aim at Ms Kuenssberg, fuelling speculation over a Tory bias.

Joanna Horton tweeted: “I know she’s not impartial but this is so blatant.”

Source: Read Full Article