Sorry in the end

The BBC has said sorry about the most recent Today interview with Nigel Lawson, via letters from Colin Tregear, Director of Complaints at the the corporation's Executive Complaints Unit.

Lord Lawson told presenter Justin Webb (I paraphrase) that the world had actually got colder over the past ten years. Mr Tregear told complainers that his statements "were, at the least, contestable and should have been challenged”. This contrasts with the Today programme's defence of the item at the time: "The BBC's role is to hear different views so listeners are informed about all sides of debate and we are required to ensure controversial subjects are treated with due impartiality."

Mr Tregear should know a bit about all this; in 2005 he was the Project Director of BBC Weather, as it moved to new graphics. (Maybe he should be asked to bring his clarity of thought there again....)