BBC ditches Ashcroft show

The BBC pulled an edition of its Panorama programme about the financial affairs of controversial Tory backer Lord Ashcroft, just hours before it was broadcast.

The corporation said the show - due to have gone out on Monday night - was withdrawn after it received a response earlier in the day to a question about a share interest transfer.

The BBC said the answer "shed new light" on the issue and it would review the programme.

It was replaced with an edition about military justice.

Billionaire Lord Ashcroft has admitted he has "non-dom" status and has not been paying income tax on his worldwide earnings.