More people think BBC has bias to left

Desk News, Dhaka, Nov 3: Almost twice as many people think the BBC has a leftwing bias as believe it favours the right, according to a new Opinium/Observer poll.

Around 41% think the BBC displays some bias. Of these, 27% say it leans to the left and 14% say it favours the right. Overall, 37% of people polled think the corporation is neutral in its news reporting while 26% do not know.

The findings come after Tory claims that the BBC has a leftwing culture and fails to report issues such as welfare cuts fairly. The BBC has defended itself against all such charges.

Among Tory voters, 44% believe the corporation has a leftwing bias, against 32% who think it is neutral. Far fewer Labour voters (19%) think it has a rightwing bias, while more of its supporters (48%) think it is neutral.
BBC Opinium poll graphic

Tory party chairman Grant Shapps said recently the BBC faced a "question of credibility" over its reporting and suggested that the £145.50-a-year licence fee might be cut unless the BBC, which is still reeling from the Jimmy Savile scandal and controversy over payoffs, reforms itself.

Some 60% of people said they believed the BBC`s news reporting was accurate and trustworthy, against 12% who thought it was not. The poll found 65% said the licence fee was too high and should be cut and 57% thought it should be forced to compete with other broadcasters if it is to continue to receive public funding.

The poll showed Labour`s lead at 6%, down a point on a fortnight ago, with the party on 37%, against 31% for the Conservatives, 16% for Ukip and 7% for the Liberal Democrats.

Source: The Guardian

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