Last week’s Question Time in Finchley ended on a deeply depressing note when the last contributor from the audience said “that there is a strong correlation with the rise in the number of Muslims in Europe and the rise in anti-Semitic attacks “, a remark that went unchallenged.  In light of the fact that the programme is pre-recorded, l am surprised and disappointed by the decision to allow the remark to remain in the broadcast without a right of reply.

Such unchallenged remarks, that reach millions of viewers, have the potential to be accepted as fact and potentially damage community relations. The BBC under his Royal Charter like any other element of public service has responsibilities to strengthen mutual understanding, tolerance and promote community relations in ethnically diverse and multicultural societies.

I would urge the BBC to state at the beginning of the next Question Time that there is no evidence to support the claim that there is a correlation between the rising number of Muslims in Europe and anti-Semitic attacks.