BBC fury: 'Absolutely disgraceful!' Viewers fume at 'biased' reporting of Boris's party

NHS oncologist Clive Peedell posted on Twitter: "Absolutely unbelievable & disgraceful from @BBCNews and @bbclaurak who describe the #No10 #DowningStreetParties scandal as 'Messy' and 'Awkward'. "This is a resigning issue. The PM has lied to Parliament and the public.

"He had the power to stop the parties, but attended instead!"

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make his first public appearance at this afternoon's Prime Minister's Questions since the leak on Monday of an email from his principal private secretary Martin Reynolds inviting Downing Street staff to the gathering in May 2020.

Number 10 has refused to say if he was present at the May event, despite reports he and his wife, Carrie Symonds, were among around 30 people to attend at a time when such gatherings were banned.

Another Twitter user posted: "The PM of the UK is on the ropes & very likely attended an illegal party in Downing st garden, why is this not the top story on the BBC news app?

"Instead we have another story about Djokovic & Biden's attempt to reform voting in the US as the 1st two stories. #bbcbias"

Another described BBC News as "absolutely sickening", writing: "BBC NEWS is absolutely sickening with its desperate fawning around The Tories & Boris Johnson.

"Last night floating the idea 'if Johnson apologised he would get redemption'.

"This morning they're going with 'It was a 'Downing Street thing' & therefore 'allowed behaviour'."

Another Twitter user posted: "@BBCBreakfast wants us to move on from #DowningStParties @AngelaRayner typical #bbcbias #ToryLies."

While anti-corruption campaigner & whistleblower, using the Twitter name Mr Ethical posted: "Laura Kuenssberg usually knows all the tittle tattle from No10 - strange she didn't know about all the parties, isn't it?"

Another added: "The BBC are not covering themselves with glory or covering the story well. By contrast at ITV they are having a ball."

The fury comes after BBC director-general Tim Davie claimed cases of bias from BBC journalists on social media are now "mercifully very, very low" as he defended the corporation in Parliament.Link

Speaking to a House of Lords committee, the BBC boss hailed the broadcaster for the quality of its news content and said he had implemented a "clear policy" for journalists to remain impartial on social media in 2020 that had yielded results over the past 12 months.

The Downing Sreet party scandal is the latest of a string of leaks and reports about lockdown parties occurring in Number 10, prompting calls for Mr Johnson to resign.

Police are in contact with the Cabinet Office over the claims, which came to a head on Monday night.

It has been alleged that a senior aide to Mr Johnson organised a "bring your own booze" event in the garden behind Number 10 on May 20, 2020.

The Prime Minister's principal private secretary sent an email to more than 100 Downing Street employees inviting them to the evening gathering, ITV reported.

Mr Reynolds said they should "make the most of the lovely weather", despite England being under tough coronavirus restrictions banning groups from meeting socially outdoors when the message was sent.

The allegations are being examined by senior official Sue Gray as part of her investigation into claims of lockdown-busting parties in Whitehall and Downing Street.

Downing Street said Mr Reynolds continues in his role" and asked whether Mr Johnson still had full confidence in one of his most senior aides, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said he did.

Two opinion polls suggested people believe Mr Johnson should resign, while senior opposition politicians also called for him to quit.Express.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment. 

Reference: Rebecca Perring