Probe the BBC over Brexit bias
Eurosceptics demand an investigation into its ‘stream of negativity’
THE BBC was last night accused the of dishing out a ‘constant stream of negativity’ in its post-referendum Brexit coverage.
Iain Duncan Smith and other Tory MPs criticised the corporation over how it has reported economic news since the referendum and the Government’s approach to Brexit negotiations.
Backbench Conservative MP and Leave campaigner Peter Bone called on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to investigate the broadcaster over what he called its ‘strong bias’ against quitting the EU.
The row was reignited after a senior BBC reporter predicted a further fall in the pound during Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday.
‘They should cheer up’
Assistant political editor Norman Smith wrote on Twitter: ‘Stand by for another tumble on the pound following Theresa May’s remarks on the single market.’
The BBC rejected the criticisms, insisting its post-referendum coverage has been ‘responsible and impartial’. Last week Boris Johnson hit out at the corporation over its ‘ shamelessly anti-Brexit’ coverage. The Foreign Secretary told delegates at the Tory party conference that the way the BBC had covered the outcome of the vote was ‘infuriating’.
Although the broadcaster was praised during the referendum campaign for even-handed coverage of the debate, there has been criticism of its reporting since the result was announced.
It has given huge prominence to a recent legal bid to block Theresa May from invoking Article 50 without a parliamentary vote on the terms of Brexit.
It also placed huge emphasis on the fall of the pound, calling it a ‘crisis’, and is accused of failing to give enough attention to the upsides of a weaker currency. Eurosceptics say the BBC has reported on positive economic news since the vote by preceding it with the phrase ‘despite Brexit’.
Mr Duncan Smith accused the corporation of a ‘constant stream of negativity’ about the value of the pound. ‘They are constantly talking about the value of the pound while ignoring other good economic news or the positive impact a lower pound can have,’ he said. ‘It’s not Norman Smith’s job to speculate on what the pound is going to do. He should be reporting events.’ The former work and pensions secretary added: ‘Banging on and on about it makes it seem like a crisis when it isn’t one.’
However, the former minister praised the BBC’s political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, for her ‘even handed’ reporting.
Mr Bone, of the Leave Means Leave campaign said: ‘The referendum is over, the British people voted to leave, yet the BBC are determined to campaign for the UK to remain in the EU.
‘I have seen no evidence of impartiality and an overwhelmingly strong bias against leaving. The BBC has a duty to provide balanced coverage and it has completely failed to do so.
‘I urge the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to investigate the BBC’s post-referendum coverage.’
On Tuesday in its main interview slot, Radio 4’s Today programme discussed the fall in the pound. The segment began by describing the pound’s decline as a ‘full-blown currency crisis’. Former Cabinet minister John Redwood said: ‘I think the BBC should understand there are lots of things going on other than Brexit.
‘The economy is doing better than they feared and they should cheer up and reflect that mood.’
In the House of Commons, Brexit Secretary David Davis said that in the ‘immediate aftermath of the vote to Leave there was an extraordinary outpouring almost of grief – a “blame Brexit” festival, if you like’. He did not mention the BBC specifically.
A spokesman for the corporation said: ‘BBC news is covering events following the referendum vote and the impact of sterling’s revaluation in a responsible and impartial way.
‘We have reported on the upsides as well as downsides and other key economic indicators like the FTSE’s strength, consumer confidence and manufacturing and services sectors rebounding.’