The UK government, led by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, has published a long-awaited mid-term review that has resulted in Ofcom and the BBC Board being granted more powers to handle complaints about BBC content. Amid concerns over the BBC's perceived bias and a lack of audience confidence in its impartiality, the reforms are aimed at boosting public trust, including tougher scrutiny of the broadcaster and extending Ofcom's oversight to the BBC's online news coverage. During an interview with Kay Burley, Frazer was challenged for evidence of actual bias, to which she admitted there's a perception of bias and acknowledged occasional instances but struggled to provide concrete examples. The government's recommendations also aim to improve the complaints system and ensure that the BBC's coverage represents all political views, thereby improving 'audience confidence'.
"This is a continuation of what's going on - this isn't an escalation," says @Tobias_Ellwood, former chair of the defence select committee. It comes as the UK and US conduct new strikes on Houthi targets. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/YB04tGG5Ss
‘We have no quarrel with the Yemeni people.’ ‘We back our words and our warnings with action.’ Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron discusses UK air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen. 📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604 🔓 Become a GB News Member: https://t.co/mNsRsGC8ef https://t.co/lPnIcDKL8o
"The BBC is a great British cultural institution." Former BBC Executive, Professor Tim Luckhurst speaks to @KayBurley on whether the BBC should be regulated by Ofcom like other broadcasters. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/6awdXsplC1
"That information was conveyed." Transport Minister @HuwMerriman insists Sir Keir Starmer, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, were notified about the recent airstrikes on Houthis. https://t.co/xItZsH7tea 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/wwRguUpjVf
Is the BBC bias? - @KayBurley "I think there are times when the BBC can do better", says Transport Minister @HuwMerriman. Follow live political updates | https://t.co/xItZsH7tea 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/kPbRjR0Gog
Discounted train tickets will go on sale for seven days. Sky's @KayBurley asks Transport Minister @HuwMerriman if he thinks rail tickets should be "cheaper generally?" "We always do our best to limit them", he says. https://t.co/0ni9s9L3Fq 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 https://t.co/6o6NrveKaa
"That information was conveyed." Transport Minister Hue Merriman insists Sir Keir Starmer, and the Speaker of the House of Commons, were notified about the recent airstrikes on Houthis. https://t.co/xItZsH7tea 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/n4tJActmW9
Transport minister @HuwMerriman MP says 'we are not ruling out further strikes against the Houthis'. "We will be tough and take all measures required," he says. https://t.co/KAaK0m5j8r 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/QPkRDaIuLf
.@HuwMerriman, Minister of State for Rail and HS2 will join @KayBurley this morning as discounts on over a million rail tickets are being introduced. 🚆 🕐 7:15 👉 #Breakfast 📺 Sky 501 / Freeview 233 📱 Watch live: https://t.co/jCgTS4CoDX
Former Labour MP @CarolineFlint and Tory MP @andreajenkyns disagree after the government accused the BBC of being biased. #PoliticsHub 🔗 https://t.co/GlTNasud7Q 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/v7gCpusPFm
Has the BBC shown bias? "I don't think it is fair to say that", says Labour's @SteveReedMP - adding 'given that the minister couldn't site any examples you have to wonder if this was just Conservatives trying to divide things'. #PoliticsHub https://t.co/GlTNastFii 📺 Sky 501 https://t.co/p1C4eoMeE8
This morning I published the Mid-Term Review of the BBC I have agreed reforms with the BBC that will boost public confidence in its impartiality and improve the experience of viewers who make a complaint ⤵️ https://t.co/ugrnKh5ul7
🎥 Culture Secretary accuses BBC of bias The Government has announced tougher scrutiny of the broadcaster and said that the board must ensure coverage represents all political views Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/TLXH5fcBiP
🚨 NEW: The government has accused the BBC of bias and is considering removing their powers to prosecute non-license fee payers [@thetimes]
BBC has been biased ‘on occasion’, says Culture Secretary as she eyes Ofcom reforms https://t.co/87aJEFRz6M
BBC facing new clampdown as broadcaster blasted by audiences over claims of bias https://t.co/xBd4zKsZrZ
"The Culture Secretary, on the programme earlier, said she thinks the BBC is bias, do you?" Shadow Environment Secretary @SteveReedMP says he 'doesn't think it's particularly biased' Full story ➡️ https://t.co/Ex9mGU5wuP 📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube https://t.co/fbGyKc2kCH
'Do you personally believe them to be biased?' @NickFerrariLBC presses the Culture Secretary on her views concerning impartiality issues within the BBC. https://t.co/XSmjIiBJzc
"Do you think the BBC is biased?" Culture Secretary @lucyfrazermp tells @KayBurley 'on occasion the BBC has been biased' Read more ➡️ https://t.co/B9czZ3oXHf 📺 Sky 501 and YouTube https://t.co/KlQkFIqxU8
Govt says there’s evidence of bias at the #BBC ? But Culture Sec @lucyfrazermp can't quite find the words or examples… #KayBurley FC https://t.co/I0Xocpf7PK
if Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer is looking for an an example of where BBC impartiality has been questioned she could mention oh https://t.co/gwSZRQSvYM
BBC 'Needs to Adapt or Risk Losing Trust of Audiences,' Says Culture Secretary as U.K. Government Publishes Mid-Term Review https://t.co/gCoKNarKV2
#KayBurley: Do you think the BBC is biased? Lucy Frazer: There's a perception of bias... on occasion it has been biased.. KB: Perception & evidence are different things https://t.co/kDYeqmfvSU
We want a strong, independent BBC that can thrive in the years to come. As we publish the mid-term review today, we're recommending reforms to help ensure this happens. Strengthening impartiality ✅ Responding to licence fee payers concerns ✅ Improving the complaints system✅ https://t.co/EK6OTe26CG
BBC to get tougher scrutiny amid bias concerns @lucyfrazermp @BBCNews https://t.co/gpVs3VnMmz
Kay Burley slightly taking Lucy Frazer to pieces on Sky about the difference between actual bias on the BBC, and the idea that some Britons believe it's biased. When asked for evidence of actual bias, Frazer listed an error.
‘Audiences are feeling the BBC is getting less impartial… trust in the impartiality is going down.’ Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer discusses Government recommendations for greater independent scrutiny and transparency in the BBC. 📺 Freeview 236, Sky 512, Virgin 604 https://t.co/KsM5vQKqux
Culture Secretary @lucyfrazermp joins Sky News Breakfast to discuss the government's recommended reforms to help boost public trust and confidence in the BBC's impartiality 🕐 7:15 👉 #Breakfast 📺 Sky 501 and YouTube 📱 Watch live: https://t.co/jCgTS4BQOp
BBC faces govt crackdown over bias – as Ofcom is handed new powers https://t.co/WdZQL5uRPj
Ofcom's oversight of the BBC will be extended under reforms aimed at bolstering confidence in the impartiality of the corporation https://t.co/1grwZNUR8e
Ministers to give Ofcom powers to regulate BBC's online news coverage in bid to tackle concerns about perceived bias at the corporation and improve 'audience confidence' https://t.co/dYY0QTtQfH https://t.co/xoAqRpNYSk
🚨 BBC audiences think the corporation is not “sufficiently impartial”, the Culture Secretary has said as she announces tougher scrutiny of the broadcaster to deal with perceived bias. 🔓 This front page story is currently free to read 👇 https://t.co/dC0T1QjEJn
Ministers set to toughen BBC rules over impartiality and complaints https://t.co/9VIAQAz8Yp
Ofcom & BBC Board Handed More Powers To Handle Complaints About BBC Content As UK Gov't Publishes Long-Awaited Mid-Term Review https://t.co/8ira9ABjHd