Show Britain you are unbiased, BBC told by watchdog

The BBC needs to convince the public that it is impartial following a string of controversies over alleged bias, says Ofcom.

The media regulator’s annual report, published yesterday, says audiences consistently rate the BBC ‘less favourably for impartiality’ than other channels.

The corporation has been accused of bias against Brexit and the Tories. and one Newsnight monologue by Emily Maitlis on the Dominic Cummings affair last year sparked thousands of complaints.

Of a total 5,429 BBC complaints received by Ofcom, 28 per cent related to impartiality.

A survey quoted in the report showed that only 55 per cent of BBC TV news viewers rated it highly for impartiality against a figure of 63 per cent for ITV news.

Ofcom said it was ‘critical’ that the BBC ‘rigorously holds itself to account’ on tackling the issue.

The watchdog’s report also said only 56 per cent of all audiences rated the BBC highly for ‘representation and portrayal’ and fewer than half of adults questioned rated it highly on ‘reflecting the lives of people like me’. The less well-off and disabled were among the less satisfied sectors.

Kevin Bakhurst of Ofcom said: ‘The BBC remains highly valued by the public and made a clear, positive contribution during the pandemic. But the last year has also seen its reputation hit by historic failings, with some viewers and listeners doubting its impartiality, and others feeling excluded.’

A BBC statement pointed out that because of its larger audience, the total number of viewers scoring it high for for impartiality was more than for any other channel. A spokesman said: ‘We have set out how we want to further improve this with a clear ten-point plan.’ ■ A FORMER private equity boss worth an estimated £125million has become a member of the BBC’s board. Sir Damon Buffini, whose knighthood was called an ‘insult to society’ by union GMB, used to head Permira, involved in controversial job-shedding deals involving organisations including the AA.