Brexit: Hartley-Brewer clashes with Adonis over 'BBC bias'

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The show invited three guests on to discuss whether the state should play a bigger part in society after the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Neil claimed all three were “in favour of bigger, more active government” and criticised the lack of ideological diversity.

Appearing on the show were former ministers Lord David Willetts and Lord Jim O’Neill, president of the Resolution Foundation and vice-chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership respectively, and University College London economist Professor Mariana Mazzucato.

Mr Neil tweeted: “Should the state play a bigger role post-pandemic? Good question.

“BBC Radio 4 Today just devoted its prime post-0800 slot to it.

“Three guests – all in favour of bigger, more active government.

“The consensus was never challenged. BBC diversity of opinion in action.”

Mr Neil is chair of GB News, a news TV news channel which is due to launch across the UK later this year.

Writing for the Daily Express, he argued the general public are no longer represented by current TV debate.

Mr Neil said: “I believe the direction of news debate in Britain is increasingly woke and out of touch with the majority of its people.

“I believe our national conversation has become too metropolitan, too southern and too middle-class.

“Some journalists and commentators seem too confident that their liberal-left assumptions must surely be shared by every sensible person in the land.

“But many of those same sensible people are fed up.”

Last year the ‘Defund the BBC’ campaign launched, arguing non-payment of the licence fee should be decriminalised.

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It is currently illegal to watch live television, including online, in the UK without a TV licence.

It costs £157.50 per household for a colour licence and £53 for black and white.

Proceeds raised from the TV licence are used to fund the BBC’s operation.

Those caught watching television without a licence can be fined up to £1,000 in addition to court costs.

Refusal to pay this fine can result in a prison sentence.

In return for funding from licence fee payments the BBC is supposed to produce politically impartial content.

The BBC’s editorial guidelines state: “The BBC is committed to achieving due impartiality in all its output.

“This commitment is fundamental to our reputation, our values and the trust of audiences.”

The BBC insist their coverage is politically impartial and note it faces accusations of bias from both right and left-wingers.

Express.co.uk approached the BBC for comment.

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