BBC Complaint response

I have received the following response from the BBC regarding my complaint, linked here: Dear Mr Cole Thanks for your e-mail. I understand that you are unhappy with the fact that BBC One programme 'London Decides: The Mayoral Debate' only included three candidates when there are ten fully registered candidates taking part in the mayoral election. I also note that you feel allocation of party political broadcasts is arbitrary. To address the issue of the inclusion of three particular candidates in this broadcast, I can tell you that our responsibility to provide comprehensive, authoritative and impartial coverage of news and current affairs in the United Kingdom comes particularly under the spotlight during the election campaigns. In the interests of fairness, the BBC makes a distinction between those parties or candidates with previous electoral success or significant current support, and other candidates. Political parties which have had the most significant previous support receive the widest coverage; however, other less major but established parties - such as the UK Independence Party and the Green Party - are also guaranteed coverage. Candidates who would be considered minor and have had no proven previous electoral support do not receive parity of coverage with more established smaller parties. With reference to your comments on party political broadcasts, we have an obligation to make airtime available for these broadcasts during local and general election campaigns. However, the broadcasts are produced by the parties themselves at their own expense. Neither the BBC, nor the independent broadcasters, are responsible for their content and their transmission does not imply our support for the views contained in them. The BBC is always under close scrutiny from every direction, but never more so than during elections. We are confident that the BBC's very strict guidelines are being adhered to during our coverage of the London Mayoral race. I can add that there is also in-depth coverage of each of the candidates on the BBC London website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/features/london_elections_2008/candidates/candidates_index.shtml However I would like to assure you that we have registered your comments on our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC. Feedback of this nature helps us when making decisions about future BBC services and your comments will play a part in this process. Thanks once again for taking the time to contact us with your views. Regards Sean Moss BBC Complaints Some of my readers may find this satisfactory, but for me it totally fails to address the problem of how electors are supposed to make informed second choices, the nub of the matter in the London Mayoral election procedure. I must stand by my posting made earlier today.