BBC seen as more left wing than right wing
BBC seen as more left wing than right wing
While Labour and Liberal Democrat voters are likely to believe the BBC is neutral in its coverage, Conservatives and UKIP voters are more likely to believe the public broadcaster presents the news with a left wing slant.
However, when asked whether the BBC tailors its news coverage to suit the wishes of the government (whether directly or indirectly), 48% believe it is not influenced while 33% think it is.
Voters put a premium on impartial reporting with 75% telling us that “the BBC needs to always stand up to pressure from governments and political parties” and 60% believe that the BBC’s reporting is “generally accurate and trustworthy”.
65% believe that the license fee is “too high and should be cut” and 57% believe that the BBC should be made to compete with other broadcasters for public funding. 55% also agreed that the BBC “has a culture of secrecy”, echoing criticisms made by Conservative chairman Grant Shapps last week.
Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 1,957 UK adults aged 18+ of whom 1,675 were likely voters. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria and the research was conducted between the 29th of October and the 1st of November 2013.
