Incoming director-general expected to address allegations of bias

recommend strict new guidelines on social media use and provide suggestions on how management can enforce the rules. A similar review conducted at Channel 4 last year resulted in nonpolitical journalists being banned from expressing their views on the subject.

Last night, a well-placed source said: “Tim buys into the idea of impartiality properly and you are going to hear a lot more about that in the coming months.”

Another said: “It would be surprising if an incoming director-general did not set out his broad aims and objectives when he takes over the reins. It would be surprising if he did not touch on the issue of impartiality, given it is such a live issue.” On the review into social media, they added: “There is an acute understanding among some people, senior in the organisation, that this is an issue that needs to be addressed.”

A BBC spokesman said: “Impartiality is vitally important for the BBC and we look forward to receiving Richard Sambrook’s assessment of the issues around the use of social media.”

It comes as Sir Robbie Gibb, the former head of BBC Westminster and director of communications to Theresa May, warns that the BBC has been “culturally captured by the woke dominated group think” among staff, adding that its journalists are “increasingly letting their politics preferences show”.

Writing in The Sunday Telegraph, Sir Robbie urges the new director-general to establish a steering group to enforce impartiality and ensure “that content genuinely reflects the outlook of the country”. Last night, it emerged that Sir Robbie was spearheading a drive to raise funds for a rival news channel to the BBC, called GB News.

This weekend, a group of 14 Conservative MPs has written to Mr Davie claiming that the BBC is “fundamentally failing” to reflect the “diverse perspectives and interests” of the public.

They cite the row over the Proms as the latest example and urge Mr Davie to reinstate the lyrics of the songs, as well as to address what they describe as a “distinct lack of impartiality in BBC reporting and commentary”.

The issue of BBC impartiality is said to be at the top of Downing Street’s agenda, following a series of clashes in recent months.