The SDLP has raised concerns about the BBC's "balance of editorial decisions" after its Stormont leader was taken off-air during the Nolan Show in a disagreement about a group representing loyalist paramilitaries.
Matthew O'Toole was removed from the airwaves after presenter Stephen Nolan objected to the South Belfast MLA's remarks about the chairman of the Loyalist Communities Council.
It followed David Campbell warning of a "credible threat" if unionism and loyalism is "continually undermined".
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He made the comments on BBC's The View during a discussion about the new Windsor Framework deal on Brexit's Northern Ireland Protocol.
The LCC, which was formed in 2015, involves representatives from the UVF, UDA and Red Hand Commando.
Mr Campbell said: "If the basis of the ceasefires that were agreed in 1994 are undermined, that is where we enter a period of real problems for Northern Ireland.
"But none of us are contemplating that. We genuinely, collectively across unionism, want a resolution to this Protocol so that we can all move on and start to deliver decent government for Northern Ireland."
On the Nolan Show on Friday, Mr O'Toole criticised how some in politics and the media had "continued to normalise the Loyalist Communities Council and particularly the utterances of Mr Campbell".
Mr Nolan responded saying that he has "heard Mr Campbell on numerous occasions say that he is fighting every day to try to convince these organisations violence is not the way to go".
Mr O'Toole said that for "a lot of people" who will have seen Mr Campbell "it feels a bit like a classic, sinister 'good cop, bad cop' act".
Mr Nolan interjected, saying: "There was nothing sinister from Mr Campbell last night.
"The message might be sinister. The message from the UVF and the UDA, pushing it through Mr Campbell, might be sinister.
"But Mr Campbell has been asked by the BBC for an assessment of where the UVF and the UDA are, and he gave it.
"And I think Matthew I need to insist that you talk about the UVF and the UDA, and Mr Campbell is not part of those organisations."
The SDLP MLA responded: "A fairly pedantic distinction to me, Stephen, but you're entitled to make it."
Mr O'Toole attempted to continue speaking but Mr Nolan interrupted him and MLA's phone line was cut from the airwaves.
Mr Nolan said: "I'm sorry, no. I can't tolerate that on air, and I'm not going to. So I'm going to say thank you, Matthew, this morning.
"There is not a pedantic distinction. Mr Campbell is a law-abiding citizen and the UVF and the UDA are criminals.
"And I'm sorry that I had to do that this morning, Matthew, but I'm not tolerating it."
An SDLP spokesman said: "The SDLP is concerned about the balance of editorial decisions taken by the BBC to platform unelected spokespersons describing 'credible threats' from proscribed paramilitary groups while legitimate criticism from elected representatives is curtailed."
He added: "Following a decision to end a discussion with SDLP Assembly group Leader Matthew O'Toole MLA on Radio Ulster this morning, the SDLP will be seeking urgent clarification from the leadership of BBC Northern Ireland about these editorial decisions and to address this very serious matter."
A BBC Northern Ireland spokesman said: "We tried to explain our response to what had been said on-air but note the concerns that have been raised about it.
"We invited Matthew O'Toole back on to the programme shortly afterwards because we wanted to hear from him. Everything that we do is informed by the BBC's editorial guidelines."
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