BBC Under Fire for Alleged Bias in Political Coverage

JamRadio Newsdesk | Social & Political Affairs |

Veteran Labour peer Lord George Foulkes has launched a scathing attack on the BBC, accusing the national broadcaster of “persistent platforming” of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party while disproportionately scrutinizing Labour figures, particularly Shadow Chancellor Angela Rayner.

In a fiery exchange aired live with Christian Fraser, Foulkes condemned what he described as the BBC’s “laser focus” on Rayner’s tax affairs, contrasting it with the network’s repeated invitations to Farage, whose party has faced criticism for promoting regressive policies and courting ultra-wealthy tax avoiders.

“It’s not journalism—it’s a political echo chamber,” Foulkes declared, challenging the BBC’s editorial choices and demanding accountability for what he called “a dangerous distortion of democratic debate.”

The remarks have ignited a wave of public support online, with thousands echoing Foulkes’ concerns. One user wrote, “It’s about time the BBC was challenged on this. It’s so obvious.” Another added, “Farage is constantly platformed while Labour policies are buried beneath gossip and innuendo.”

Critics point to Farage’s recent £40,000 speaking engagement at the Nomad Capitalism conference—an event promoting offshore wealth strategies—as emblematic of the Reform Party’s alignment with elite interests. Yet BBC coverage of this event was notably absent, while Rayner’s personal finances dominated headlines.

The controversy has reignited scrutiny over the BBC’s governance, with many accusing the Conservative government of “packing” the BBC’s executive board with political allies. The reappointment of Sir Robbie Gibb—a former Downing Street communications director and vocal Brexiteer—has drawn particular ire, with critics calling him an “active agent of the Tory Party”.

Former BBC journalist Emily Maitlis previously warned that such appointments risk compromising the BBC’s editorial independence, describing Gibb’s influence as “deeply worrying”.

Under the BBC’s Royal Charter, the Culture Secretary plays a pivotal role in upholding the broadcaster’s impartiality and public service mandate. Lucy Frazer, the current Culture Secretary, has acknowledged that the BBC has shown bias “on occasion” and is overseeing reforms to strengthen Ofcom’s regulatory powers over BBC content. Yet critics argue that perception alone is not enough—and that the government must act decisively to restore trust in the BBC’s neutrality.

Media watchdogs and political analysts warn that such imbalance risks undermining public trust in the BBC’s impartiality mandate. “When a public broadcaster begins to mirror partisan narratives, democracy suffers,” said Dr. Nina Chaudhry, a media ethics researcher.

Calls are growing for an independent review of BBC editorial standards and for Parliament to investigate whether the broadcaster is fulfilling its public service obligations.

BBC Under Fire for Alleged Bias in Political Coverage

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