Viewers have called for the BBC’s Fiona Bruce and Laura Kuenssberg to be investigated over their political 'impartiality'.
It comes after BBC newsreader Maxine Croxall was understood to have been taken off air on Sunday night.
The presenter was announcing the news Boris Johnson had pulled out of the Tory leadership race during Sunday night’s edition of The Papers.
"Am I allowed to be this gleeful? Well I am," she told viewers.
Her comments are said to have breached the BBC’s strict impartiality rules and the broadcaster has since launched an 'urgent' investigation.
"It is imperative that we maintain the highest editorial standards. We have processes in place to uphold our standards, and these processes have been activated,” the BBC said in a statement.
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Some viewers – including Tory MPs – also complained the comment displayed bias.
Former culture secretary Nadine Dorries, who had backed Johnson’s return as prime minister, said: “The BBC is a public service broadcaster paid for by the general public who overwhelmingly voted for a Conservative government.”
She added: “This lack of impartiality demonstrates how deep seated the bias is.”
The latest news sparked outrage among BBC viewers – with some calling for other presenters to be investigated over alleged political bias, too.
”Martine Croxall of BBC News shows her bias when surely a newsreader should be impartial. Unfit for the job,” said one angry viewer.
While a second added: "@Ofcom please moderate horribly biased @BBCNews woman Martine Croxall @MartineBBC shouting over @ScottBentonMP for daring to support the democratically elected @BorisJohnson It's unrepresentative and intolerable that have to pay her wages or go to jail."
Question Time’s Fiona Bruce and politics presenter Laura Kuenssberg, who has just landed her own Sunday show, were in the firing line.
Taking to Twitter, one peeved off social media user wrote: “Just read Maxine newsreader is to be investigated for impartiality. Please start with Fiona Bruce first question time is ruined b/c of her bias towards Tories.”
“Also investigate Laura Kuenssberg and Fiona Bruce, or is Tory bias ok,” a second fumed.
A third chimed in: “Fiona Bruce & Laura Kuenssberg should be investigated then. @BBCNews you can’t pick and choose depending which way the bias is. You long since abandoned balance This is truly pathetic.”
A fourth added: “Maxine Croxall removed from the BBC for lack of impartiality? Did they not watch Laura Kuenssberg’s interviews with Johnson and Corbyn where Johnson was insulted but Corbyn treated with kid gloves?”
While a fifth tweeted: “Unsurprisingly never any comment on Fiona Bruce’s behaviour on question time constantly interrupting or expressing her views whenever any non Tory speaks. Married to CEO of company advertising Tory policies. Tories complaining about BBC impartiality.”
The BBC has a strict set of guidelines for employees which prohibits them from expressing any bias.
Section 4.1 of their editorial guidelines states: "The term 'due' means that the impartiality must be adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation."
The Mirror has approached the BBC for further comment.
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