Nigel Farage and Jon Snow are cleared by Ofcom over Brexit rally remarks

Channel 4 News anchor Jon Snow did not breach TV rules by saying he had ‘never seen so many white people in one place’ while reporting at a pro-Brexit rally. 

Nigel Farage was also let off the hook for saying Snow ‘should be attacked because of his terrible condescending bias’ on his LBC show. 

Ofcom cleared Snow of the comment which sparked more than 2,600 complaints that it was racist and offensive. 

At the rally, held on March 29 – the day the UK was supposed to leave the EU, he told viewers: ‘It has been the most extraordinary day. A day which has seen – I’ve never seen so many white people in one place. 

‘It’s an extraordinary story. There are people everywhere, there are crowds everywhere.’

Channel Four described the comment as ‘a spontaneous, unscripted observation’ and previously said it ‘regretted any offence caused’.  

It said that the comment was ‘factually accurate’ and that ‘Jon Snow, who is also a white person, told the public what he saw. 

Nigel Farage was also let off the hook for saying Snow ‘should be attacked because of his terrible condescending bias’ on his LBC show 

‘Some have inferred that Mr Snow was making a negative comment about Brexit supporters and that there were racial overtones. 

‘That was not the case. There was no negative or pejorative language, tone, intent or implication behind it.

‘He was entitled to point to this unusual situation,’  it said.

While finding that the comment was not in breach, Ofcom reminded broadcasters to take ‘particular care’ with ‘ambiguous statements’ amid a ‘volatile public discourse surrounding Brexit’.

It also issued the reminder about ‘ambiguous remarks’ after ruling that a comment made by Nigel Farage on his LBC show, in the aftermath of Snow’s comment, was not in breach.

Jon Snow told viewers: ‘It has been the most extraordinary day. A day which has seen – I’ve never seen so many white people in one place’. Pictured is the pro-Brexit rally from March 29

Farage made the comments while having a discussion with former Labour party spin doctor Alistair Campbell. 

Mr Campbell said protesters started ‘beating up journalists’ and asked Farage to condemn ‘people who attack journalists’. 

Farage then said: ‘Well I think Jon Snow should be attacked without doubt, but that’s slightly a separate issue.’

He explained: ‘Because of his terrible condescending bias, but that’s a separate issue.’ 

Ofcom said: ‘We’ve reminded both broadcasters that ambiguous remarks, in programmes dealing with polarising political issues, should be put fully into context’

Farage later clarified in the programme that he meant a verbal attack, not a physical one, saying: ‘Verbally, verbally attacked for his disgraceful coverage of the Leave rally.’

Ofcom received seven complaints about the remark on LBC.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said in reference to both broadcasts: ‘We recognise that comments made by the presenters in these programmes had the potential to cause offence to viewers and listeners.

‘However, we concluded that both unscripted remarks came during live programmes which featured a broad range of views about Brexit. The comments were also ultimately clarified.

‘But we’ve reminded both broadcasters that ambiguous remarks, in programmes dealing with polarising political issues, should be put fully into context.’