The Tory Culture Secretary failed to provide evidence of BBC bias despite asserting that it is an issue that needs to be tackled in a “car crash” TV interview on Monday morning.
Lucy Frazer was doing media interviews in the wake of news that UK Government reforms could give media watchdog Ofcom greater powers over BBC News articles and the corporation’s complaints process.

The top Tory had said in a statement published by the Government: “In a rapidly changing media landscape the BBC needs to adapt or risk losing the trust of the audiences it relies on.

“Following constructive conservations [sic] with the BBC and Ofcom, we have recommended reforms that I believe will improve accountability while boosting public confidence in the BBC’s ability to be impartial.”

The BBC said in its most recent annual report that improving impartiality scores is its first priority.

According to Ofcom’s 2022-2023 report on the BBC, 56% of the general public rate the broadcaster positively for “news coverage that is impartial”, dropping to 50% among lower socio-economic backgrounds.

In an interview on Sky News, the Culture Secretary was challenged on evidence of bias at the BBC necessitating reforms targeted at impartiality. Instead, she leaned on figures like the above, which are based on public perceptions.

After saying she believed the BBC had been biased, Frazer was asked: “Where is the evidence of bias?”

She said: “The evidence of bias is what audiences believe is the content of the BBC.”

Told that was not “evidence” but “perception,” Frazer went on: “That is evidence.

“Impartiality is about perception of the things that are being broadcast by the BBC, and the evidence in relation to that perception is that …”

Again pressed on perception and evidence being different, Frazer said: “The evidence from Ofcom having done studies and questionnaires of the public is that the BBC’s ratings in relation to impartiality have gone down, and I and the BBC think that there is more that the BBC can do in order to improve that.”

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell wrote: “Woman who defends GB News goes on Sky to say the BBC is biased.

“They have gone through the looking glass this lot … the sooner they’re gone the faster Britain can recover from its lost decade.”

On Monday, Frazer defended GB News after issues were raised around the number of “former or current and often leading members of the governing party” on its hosting line-up.

Responding, the Tory minister claimed the right-wing channel had “balance across the spectrum”.

LBC host Carol Vorderman noted Frazer’s interview, pulling up a story about conflicts of interest during her time at the Treasury.

Vorderman wrote: “JUST A LITTLE REMINDER of Lucy Frazer when Treasury Minister accused of conflict of interest.
"Her husband David Leigh was CEO of a recruiting firm with a £15 BILLION govt contract.
"The company put people into HMRC using loan charge tax evasion schemes.
"The Tory conflicts of interest (perceived or evidenced ... to coin a phrase from Frazer's car crash interview on impartiality of the BBC this morning) are absolutely core to their being.”