Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Tory scolded for divulging 'bias' meeting

Patricia Wynn Davies Political Correspondent
Wednesday 24 January 1996 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

PATRICIA WYNN DAVIES

Political Correspondent

A planned grilling by Tory MPs over the alleged anti-government bias of John Humphrys, presenter of BBC Radio 4's Today, took a farcical turn last night as a Tory MP turned on a party colleague for inviting the press to report on it.

Dame Elaine Kellett-Bowman , a stickler for procedure, caught Mr Humphrys taking questions from lobby journalists after the private meeting.

Rounding on Michael Fabricant, the deputy chairman, for alerting the media to the meeting, she declared: "I am amazed at you Michael. These are private meetings." Turning to Mr Humphrys, she commanded: "May I urge you to depart?"

The meeting of the Tory backbench media committee itself turned out to be less fiercesome than some had predicted, with occasional laughter punctuating MPs' complaints of the programme's alleged bias, inadequate resistance to Labour Party spin-doctoring, interruption during interviews, and what one MP called its "distortion of reality".

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in