The BBC has acknowledged that a Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) video featuring Cllr Wayne Fitzgerald was wrongly shared with the Peterborough Conservative Group—an act that breached the publishing rules governing publicly funded LDR content.
CambsNews raised the issue with the BBC after discovering that a video interview—recorded by a Local Democracy Reporter to provide context on Cllr Fitzgerald’s opposition to a council debate on local government reform—had appeared on the official Peterborough Conservatives Facebook page, where it was viewed more than 4,000 times. The party publicly thanked the LDR for “providing” the footage.
Under the LDR scheme, such material is intended solely for distribution through approved news partners, not for political use by parties, candidates, or campaign groups.
BBC response: “footage was shared in contradiction to LDRS expectations”
The BBC initially issued a holding reply on Monday, pending further checks. By Tuesday afternoon, a second message confirmed that CambsNews’ concerns were justified.
Jason Gibbins, Editor of Local News Partnerships, wrote: “Following investigation, it has been confirmed that the footage was shared with Councillor Fitzgerald in contradiction to the LDRS publishing expectations.
“The issue has been dealt with as part of the LDRS contract management process, and we now consider the matter closed.”
The confirmation amounts to an acknowledgment that LDR content—funded by licence fee payers to support impartial public service journalism—was improperly distributed.
Why the complaint matters
The LDR scheme, created in partnership with the News Media Association and launched in 2017, funds up to 165 reporters who scrutinise councils and public institutions across the UK. Their work is shared through the BBC News Hub to more than 1,100 eligible media outlets.
The scheme is built on strict impartiality. BBC editorial rules explicitly prohibit journalists from allowing their work to be used in ways that promote political messaging or create perceptions of bias.
By posting the interview on a partisan platform, CambsNews argues, the Peterborough Conservatives turned neutral reporting into political content—undermining public trust and breaching the principles of the scheme.
MP responds: “an overstep in its impartiality”
Andrew Pakes, MP for Peterborough, said he was concerned by what had occurred:
“I was surprised to see the Local Democracy Reporting Service being used to produce a video for a political party. It has not appeared anywhere else.
“I am a supporter of the scheme and how it develops local journalism, but this seems to be an overstep in its impartiality.”
CambsNews Position
CambsNews maintains that LDR content exists to inform the public, not to bolster a political party’s communications. When misused, it risks damaging confidence in a programme designed to support fair, balanced, and transparent local reporting.
The publication called on the BBC to ensure that all partners and political organisations adhere strictly to the agreed rules governing LDR content.
