Tory BBC fury over Starmer TV slot

THE BBC’s decision to give Sir Keir Starmer a prime-time platform last night to attack Boris Johnson’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis triggered fury among Conservative MPs.

The Labour leader was given a ‘right of reply’ to the Prime Minister’s Covid statement, made the night before at the same time of 8pm.

Mr Johnson did not make a party political attack in his address, but Sir Keir used the slot to brand Mr Johnson a ‘failure’.

The decision by the broadcaster infuriated Conservative MPs, who said the Prime Minister’s speech did not warrant a response.

‘This is a completely bonkers BBC decision that flies in the face of all logic,’ said Richard Holden, the Tory MP for North West Durham.

‘When the Prime Minister speaks as Prime

Minister, he speaks as the leader of our country, not for a party.’ Fellow Conservative MP Tom Hunt added: ‘This is clearly inappropriate.

‘How does Starmer being given a platform to launch a political attack at this stage help the nation and the public? This does raise questions about the BBC and their impartiality.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘Under the BBC Charter and Agreement, the Government can require the BBC to transmit a ministerial broadcast.

‘In those circumstances, under its Editorial Guidelines, the BBC has to consider whether to offer other parties the opportunity to respond.

‘There has been a response on every occasion since the Suez crisis, bar one.’