Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski hits out at 'BBC Brexit bias'
Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has made a formal complaint to the BBC, accusing it of bias in its coverage over Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.
Mr Kawczynsk has signed a letter to BBC director general Tony Hall calling for new editorial guidelines
The letter complained about BBC journalists referring to leaving the European Union without a trade agreement as a 'cliff edge' option.
Mr Kawczynski said: "Their biased coverage over Brexit is not appropriate bearing in mind their funding comes from taxpayers."
The letter has also been backed by arch-Brexiteer, Sir Bill Cash, the MP for Stone in Staffordshire who lives in Bridgnorth.
The letter was drafted by former Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers, demanding new editorial guidance is issued to express a “neutral view” on leaving the EU without a trade deal.
She said it was wrong to express leaving on World Trade Organisation terms as either a “cliff edge” or “crashing out”.
Partisan
The letter said: “These terms are used routinely and frequently by presenters and journalists as part of the BBC’s news and political coverage of Brexit.
“We would request that you advise your reporters and presenters to use language which is less partisan, for example by referring to the UK ‘leaving without a withdrawal agreement’ or ‘leaving on WTO terms’.”
Other supporters of the letter include former Brexit minister David Jones, former Tory vice-chairman Ben Bradley, and the DUP’s Sammy Wilson.
Lord Hall last year insisted impartiality had always been the “cornerstone of BBC News”.
A BBC spokesman confirmed the corporation had received the complaint.
“We’ve received this letter and will respond in due course," he said.
"BBC News is committed to reporting Brexit impartially and accurately.”
