The BBC Director General is to speak at a private meeting of Conservative MPs next week.
Described by political commentators as “highly unusual”, Tim Davie will address the 1922 Committee of backbenchers next Wednesday.
The chair, Altrincham and Sale West MP, Sir Graham Brady, told the BBC that the meeting had been arranged a number of weeks ago and that he hadn’t been asked to speak about anything specific.
That means that it hasn’t been called in response to the BBC’s reporting of the conflict in the Middle East.
The corporation has been criticised by some Conservative MPs for its policy not to call Hamas “terrorists”.
However, according to reports yesterday, it has received around 1500 complaints so far for its coverage, split equally between those who feel there is bias against Israel and those who think it is against Palestinians.
It’s believed that the invite came in the wake of the Gary Lineker tweet.
Justin Madders, the Labour MP for Ellesmere Port & Neston said that Davie should be addressing MPs from all parties.
If the Director General of the BBC wants to talk to MPs he should talk to all of them of all parties, not just some https://t.co/uk9f3gMqOf
— Justin Madders MP (@justinmadders) October 20, 2023
The 1922 Committee has previously hosted non-political speakers, such as Bill Gates and the Governor of the Bank of England.
