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Watch: Tory MP accuses BBC of bias over ‘amateurish’ Newsnight Yemen special

With charter renewal looming, the BBC is under increasing scrutiny from the government to justify its licence fee. So it’s fair to say Thursday night’s Newsnight Yemen special did little to endear the corporation to some members of the Tory camp.

The programme — led by the BBC’s Gabriel Gatehouse — looked into Yemen’s ‘forgotten war’; highlighting the Saudi-led coalition’s bombing campaign over Yemen to drive Houthi rebels from the city. It reported how the airstrikes — which have hit some civilian targets — are supported by Britain as the country sells arms to Saudi Arabia.

Alas, this focus has not gone down well with Daniel Kawczynski, the Tory MP who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. He has tweeted Newsnight editor Ian Katz to warn him that the licence fee should ensure balanced reporting rather than ‘one-sided propaganda’:

DanielBBCtweet

Kawczynski accuses Newsnight producers of ‘unprofessional’ reporting for failing to report on the ‘brutality’ brought on by Houthi rebels:

https://twitter.com/KawczynskiMP/status/642322744256933889

https://twitter.com/KawczynskiMP/status/642306965746679808

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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