A weekly paper that published a two-page letter which started a debate on immigration has escaped action following an investigation by the Press Complaints Commission.

The Boston Target published a letter by a reader who withheld their name for publication, and a reader complained to the PCC that it was inaccurate and discriminatory – listing points to back up their claim.

The letter aroused unprecedented interest among readers of the Lincolnshire newspaper and all the letters opposing the published views were also printed.

Under Clause 13 of the Editor’s Code of Practice, newspapers are not allowed to make prejudicial reference to a specific person’s race or nationality. The letter had not made reference to any named individuals and so had not breached the code.

On accuracy, editors are allowed to publish partisan opinion, as long as comment and conjecture are clearly distinguished from fact.

In this case the letter was clearly presented as the views of an unidentified writer, and it was clearly stated the letter had been published to stimulate debate.

The PCC stated: “The Commission considered that readers would not necessarily have been misled into believing that there was no other view to be taken on the matter and concluded that no breach of Clause 1 of the Code could be established.”

The complainant had said the article had not been balanced by any factual evidence to support the claims, or by a counter argument.

He said: “In this area ethnic minorities are not well represented, and therefore this article is particularly offensive and racist.

“It also allowed the writer to state that his views were also the concerns of many, and suggest that many of the immigrants were illegal, economic migrants and criminals.”

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