Boaden v Bojo

And here's the BBC response to Boris Johnson, who, in a polemic in yesterday's Telegraph, called for a Tory to be installed as the next DG.

Sir, 


Boris Johnson argues that BBC News is biased, statist and anti-business (Comment, May 14). It is none of these things; but it does strive to be impartial. We are required to be impartial because every household in the country pays the licence fee, regardless of political opinion or social status. That is a goal we take very seriously. Impartiality means testing opinions, rather than accepting agendas – asking difficult questions of politicians, business leaders, the Church and the State. And those who have the most trenchant views – by definition, most elected politicians – tend to be those who complain most about impartiality. Our research suggests that our audiences continue to trust our journalism. The next director-general is a matter for the BBC Trust. Whatever the outcome, the commitment to impartiality will remain. 


Helen Boaden 
Director, 
BBC News 
London W12