Brexit showed that BBC is full of 'metropolitan bias', Boris Johnson says 

Boris Johnson last night accused the BBC of ‘metropolitan bias’.

Speaking to Tory MPs, the Prime Minister said the Brexit process had shown that the Corporation was ‘pretty detached’ from many of its viewers.

He said he hoped the BBC would move ‘more into line’. Mr Johnson made his comments at a meeting of the 1922 committee of Conservative backbenchers.

Boris Johnson (pictured) said the Brexit process had shown that the BBC was ‘pretty detached’ from many of its viewers

The BBC insisted last week that it was ‘proud to be British’ after a furious backlash at news presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty mocking the Union Jack.

Asked about the row, the PM said: ‘We need to recognise on the whole that there is a great deal of instinctual metropolitan bias in the BBC newsroom. 

‘It’s pretty clear from the whole Brexit experience that the BBC was pretty detached from a lot of its viewers and listeners and I hope they move more into line.’ 

This week the BBC said it will move more of its staff and shows out of London amid concerns it is out of touch with much of the country. 

Since becoming director-general last year Tim Davie has launched a crackdown on the way news stars behave on social media, as part of his moves to tackle impartiality issues at the broadcaster. 

The BBC insisted last week that it was ‘proud to be British’ after a furious backlash at news presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty mocking the Union Jack (pictured)