Duncan Smith makes official complaint over BBC ‘carping’

Published on 20/08/2012 00:04

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith’s department has made a formal complaint to the BBC claiming its coverage of the government is biased, it has emerged.

The former Tory leader launched a scathing attack on the corporation and singled out economics editor Stephanie Flanders for the harshest criticism, accusing her of “peeing all over British industry”.

BBC officials defended the organisation’s record of impartiality and Ms Flanders’s reporting.

But Mr Duncan Smith claims the broadcaster diminishes the role of the government in good news stories, but “dumps” on it when the story is bad. He appeared to be particularly angered by coverage given last week to unemployment figures after there was an unexpected drop in Britain’s jobless.

His department has formally complained to head of news Helen Boaden about the BBC’s “carping and moaning”.

Mr Duncan Smith said: “They convinced themselves youth unemployment would continue to rise, but when it fell they were in a complete quandary.

“Stephanie Flanders poured cold water over the whole thing. She said: ‘Of course this is good news, but it could be because we aren’t productive enough’. She was peeing all over British industry and the private sector.”.