Get all the latest politics news Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

The most senior Conservative in the West Midlands has accused the BBC of being biased against his party, as polls suggest Tories are failing to make the breakthrough they need to win the general election.

Culture Secretary Sajid Javid, MP for Bromsgrove in Worcestershire, complained that the BBC was “anti-Tory”.

He vented his frustration against the national broadcaster as bookies predicted Labour leader Ed Miliband was on course to become Prime Minister, with just a week to go before polling day.

But he was condemned as “unfit to do his job” after he appeared to warn the BBC would face repercussions unless it changed its tone.

Labour MP Steve McCabe (Lab Birmingham Hall Green) said: “The Tory Party is looking for a scapegoat for the failure of their campaign.”

As Culture Secretary, Mr Javid has responsibility for broadcasting.

And he said the BBC’s failure to provide “balanced” coverage could be an issue when the BBC’s Charter is up for renewal in December next year.

Mr Javid told the Daily Mail the BBC’s coverage was left-thinking and left him thinking: “What was that? I’m sure they could have done a more balanced job.”

And referring to a debate on the Today programme, BBC Radio 4’s flagship news show, he said: “Last week, listening to the Today programme, there was a debate . . . they were all anti-Tory. It came across as very, very anti-Tory.”

Mr Javid said a review of the BBC’s charter would have to look at ensuring its political coverage was balanced.

He said: “The BBC Trust has a role and there’s a role for Ofcom. During elections in broadcasting there’s a requirement to give a fair share to all of the main parties.”

Mr McCabe said: “The truth is that everybody complains about the BBC. But what we are seeing here is Tory frustration with the way their campaign is going.

“What Sajid is displaying is his unfitness to do the Culture Secretary job.”

Polls suggest Labour and the Conservatives continue to be neck and neck in the election race. Tories have been banking on a late surge of support in their favour, but it has yet to materialise.

Bookmakers William Hill have Labour leader Ed Miliband as favourite to be Prime Minister after the election on odds of 4/7, with Conservative David Cameron on 11/8, although the bookmaker says the odds on Mr Cameron staying in Downing Street are shortening.

More election coverage: David Cameron promises tax cuts in blunt message to voters in Midlands visit

The battle for power

Our interactive poll-of-polls draws on every opinion poll published by each of the main polling companies over the last 100 days: