BBC • GETTY The investigation analysed 40 editions of Newsnight

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The investigation by News-watch, an organisation that has been monitoring the BBC for impartiality for the past sixteen years, analysed items focusing on the EU referendum in 40 editions of Newsnight, between 16 January and 12 March. The BBC, which is funded by the licence fee payer, is required by its Charter to offer impartial coverage. However, the analysis of 25 feature items about the EU referendum on its flagship news program has revealed that it has given twice as much space to pro-EU supporters.



In an astonishing finding News-watch has observed that in one-one interviews on the referendum there have been 12 supporters of Remain compared to only six who were in favour of leaving the EU.

Out of all 40 editions of Newsnight, of all the guests who have appeared to discuss the EU, there were 25 who clearly supported the Remain perspective and just 14 who want Britain to leave the EU. News-watch also claims that those who support Remain were clearly given much greater prominence than those who want to leave. The report highlights an interview of Labour Grassroots Out lead campaigner Kate Hoey MP on February 5, in what is “a very rare appearance on the BBC of a Labour figure supporting EU exit". The main thrust of the interview by James O'Brien was not her reasons for wanting to leave, but rather the extent to which the exit movement was split, and what was happening next.

IG Newsnight has featured referendum 40 times in two months but give Remain debates double the airtime

The report also notes that pro-EU figures, like the former president of the EU Commission, Jose Manuel Barosso, and the former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt, have had the clear opportunity in main interviews to explain why leaving the EU would not be in the UK's interest but there has been no balancing opinion from similarly weighty figures who support exit. In a feature linked to the continued success of Donald Trump, three commentators on EU affairs – journalist Anne Applebaum, the historian Tom Snyder and Oxford don Timothy Garton Ash – were given space to collectively explain why it was vital that the UK stayed in the EU.

BBC The BBC is required by its charter to offer impartial coverage

They used the feature to call for the EU to unify even further against the threat of Russia, China and if Donald Trump was elected, the United States. Newsnight is not the only BBC program believed to be biased towards the Remain camp. Last week Question Time was condemned for having four out of five panellists supporting a Remain vote.

The pros and cons of Brexit Fri, February 26, 2016 The pros and cons of Brexit. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 12 Pros and cons of Brexit

BBC The BBC has given pro-EU supporters twice as much airtime as those in favour of Brexit

David Keighley, managing director of News-Watch said: “Political balance is always a complex equation. But this is clear evidence that Newsnight has got off to a very disappointing start in its reporting of the referendum debate. “They are relying on their coverage far too much on EU figures, and are emphasising splits in the leave camp disproportionately."

IG BBC are being accused on 'institutional bias' on the programme

Ms Hoey said: “For years, the BBC has not allowed the case for Brexit to be heard properly and all too often they treated advocates as dangerous xenophobes. “As the campaign has got underway, this research shows that – although they are now at least talking to supporters off Brexit – it is reluctantly, and they still give undue and unfair prominence to the remain side. “This seems to be an institutional bias, and in the interest of democracy, it must stop, urgently."