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The public service broadcaster said only people from ethnic minorities are eligible to fill the £17,810 role in its science unit in Glasgow. David Kurten, leader of the Heritage Party and a former member of the London Assembly, called the policy “racism”.

The Beeb said the position for the one-year fixed-term contract role is “only open to black, Asian and ethnically diverse candidates”.

This caused a backlash among viewers on social media, some of whom called for the broadcaster to be defunded.

While positive discrimination is unlawful under the Equality Act 2010, “positive action” is allowed for trainee and internship roles in areas where under-representation is evident.

Mr Kurten tweeted his disapproval of the Beeb’s rule, adding the hashtag #DefundTheBBC.

Others questioned if the BBC would have adopted a similar policy to ban non-white people from applying for a role.

One person said: “Imagine the riots if it had been the other way round.”

A second wrote: “What has our society became?”

And yet a third tweeted directly to Oliver Dowden, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport.

They questioned: “How is this even legal?”

Others called on the Beeb to usher in a fairer system to ensure the candidate who lands each job is the one best suitable for it, regardless of their ethnicity.

One man said: “For me, on an application form get rid of race, religious belief, and sex, the candidates will move forward through the application process purely on merit.”

A second added: “Better qualified to do the job doesn’t apply then?”

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And one furious man branded the BBC policy of not allowing white people to apply a “disgrace”

He tweeted: “What a disgrace. If this were the other way round there would be riots in the streets.

“People now seem to think this is acceptable and that white people will just keep quiet.”

Creative Access, a company that aims to boost the number of ethnic minorities working in the creative, media and arts industries, advertised the position online.

The advert said: “The successful candidate will be someone with a desire to build a career in the TV industry and a demonstrable interest in BBC Studios.”

The successful BAME candidate will have the chance to work on The One Show, The Truth About series and Springwatch.

A spokesman for the BBC said: “The BBC is a welcoming, inclusive organisation committed to representing and reflecting our audiences.

“We support a scheme organised by Creative Access, an independent organisation dedicated to increasing diversity in the creative industries, which provides development roles, fully in line with the Equality Act.”

The BBC has been contacted for further comment.

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