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Daily Record
Daily Record
World
Daniel Bird & Ketsuda Phoutinane

BBC presenter 'breaks impartiality rules' after Boris Johnson drops out of PM race

BBC News presenter Martine Croxall has enraged some viewers for her reaction to the news that Boris Johnson would not join the race for prime minister.

A clip of the BBC presenter claiming to be 'gleeful' over the ex-PM dropping out the race has gone viral on social media, with many calling for broadcasting watchdog Ofcom to investigate the matter.

According to the BBC's strict editorial guidelines, broadcasters are supposed to uphold due impartiality and keep their views personal in a bid to uphold the balance between opposing views.

Shortly after Boris made the announcement, Martine said: "Well, this is all very exciting, isn't it, hello and welcome to our look ahead to what the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. Am I allowed to be this gleeful? Well, I am."

One disgruntled viewer said: "Martine Croxall of BBC News shows her bias when surely a newsreader should be impartial. Unfit for the job," the Mirror reported.

"@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," fumed another.

Boris Johnson has pulled out of the leadership contest (AFP via Getty Images)

While a third commented: "Martine Croxall is rightly being pilloried for this partisan display of giddy excitement as News broke of Boris Johnson dropping out of the Leadership contest. This lapse of impartiality and professionalism illustrates why so many accuse the BBC of bias."

A fourth viewer raged that Martine was "unfit for the job" after allegedly showing her "bias".

However, Maxine never commented specifically on what she was "gleeful" about as she introduced the bulletin.

Earlier this year, Tories expressed their fury and claimed the BBC had aired "outrageous" bias during the apology Boris issued to the House of Commons after admitting to breaking lockdown laws with his parties.

A Whitehall source described the coverage as "unbearable", before adding: "It feels like the BBC isn't going to stop until he’s gone. Wednesday night's News at Ten was extraordinary but Today was even worse."

The Mirror has approached the BBC for comment.

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