Bradshaw attacks BBC for pro-Tory bias
By politics.co.uk staff
Ben Bradshaw has lambasted BBC coverage of the Tory party conference as “fawning and feeble”.
The culture secretary hit out at the Today programme’s approach to the Tories’ get-together in Manchester on Twitter.
This morning’s programme featured an interview with George Osborne, who delivered his keynote speech to the conference yesterday. It was followed by former Tory MP and current Independent writer Michael Brown, who praised the shadow chancellor.
“Another wholly feeble and biased Today programme rounded off with a fawning interview with a Tory pundit!” Mr Bradshaw tweeted.
It’s the second time this week he has attacked the BBC – his former employer – for its coverage.
Earlier in the week, he berated the broadcaster for its interview with shadow children’s secretary Michael Gove.
A BBC spokesman said: “I think people recognise suggesting your political opponents are somehow getting an easier ride from broadcasters is something that has always been part of politics.
“Broadcasters get this allegation from all sides of the political spectrum and we are confident that this morning’s interview was both robust and rigorous.”
Opposition parties reacted angrily to the interventions.
“‘Rather than interfering in the BBC’s day to day political coverage he would be better off getting to grips with the policy needed to help Britain’s struggling media industry,” said Jeremy Hunt, shadow culture secretary.
Liberal Democrat culture spokesman Don Foster said: “It is disgraceful for the secretary of state to make such petty, partisan comments. It is reminiscent of the bullying tactics used against the BBC by Alastair Campbell.
“Unless we want to end up with a banana republic, both Labour and the Tories should call off their attack dogs. The BBC must never become a state funded mouthpiece for the party in power.”
It’s not the first time ministers have used the social media tool to make their views plain. Over the summer, the prime minister and health secretary Andy Burnham used Twitter to support the campaign backing the NHS.
