Alan Craig is the Christian Choice candidate for Mayor of London so it’s probably no surprise to learn that his Party Election Broadcast is as dull as dishwater. What is surprising is that it wasn’t dull enough for either the BBC or ITV (via).

Alan Craig, a long-standing campaigner against the “Mega” Mosque, due to be built in Newham close to the site of the Olympic Games, originally described the organisation behind it, Tablighi Jamaat, as “separatist”. However, BBC and ITV officials responsible for supervising the Broadcasts instructed him to moderate his language and change this factual description of the Islamic organisation if he wanted it aired. Alan Craig claims not only “political interference” by the broadcasters, but says such action breeches his rights under the European Convention on Human Rights, which protects freedom of speech.

The original text read:

“You may know about plans by a separatist Islamic group to build Europe’s biggest mosque next to the Olympics site in West Ham. I think it’s a bad idea that will bring division and I’m glad moderate Muslims support my stance in opposing it.”

The BBC edited text read:

“You may know about plans by a controversial Islamic group to build Europe’s biggest mosque next to the Olympics site in West Ham. I think it’s a bad idea that will bring division and I’m glad Muslim leaders support my stance in opposing it.”

And, after ITV got their hands on it, it read:

“You may know about controversial plans by an Islamic group to build Europe’s biggest mosque next to the Olympics site in West Ham. I think it’s a bad idea that will bring division and I’m glad some Muslims leaders support my stance in opposing it.”

It does sound like Craig has a genuine case here. His original statement doesn’t break any laws and I hope he does establish that neither the BBC nor ITV should be able to place restrictions on what election candidates do and don’t say.

I also hope that both Alan Craig and the Christian Legal Centre remember why freedom of speech is important when the next controversy comes around.

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