Ministers to give Ofcom powers to regulate BBC's online news coverage in bid to tackle concerns about perceived bias at the corporation and improve 'audience confidence'

Impartiality of BBC is still an issue for audiences as Ofcom is given new powers7Government to push major reforms to improve 'audience confidence' in broadcaster

The impartiality of the BBC is still an issue for audiences, the Government has warned, as ministers prepare to hand new powers to Ofcom to regulate the broadcaster’s online news coverage.

In a bid to tackle concerns about perceived bias at the corporation, the Government is to push ahead with major reforms to improve ‘audience confidence’ in the broadcaster’s objectivity and complaints system.

Under the first mid-term review of the BBC, to be unveiled today, ministers will extend Ofcom’s oversight to cover parts of the corporation’s online services, including the BBC News website.

Ministers will also assess the BBC’s social media guidelines in the next charter review process, which is likely to start next year.

It follows a string of impartiality controversies about the corporation’s highest paid star Gary Lineker and his political tweets.

Ministers will also assess the BBC’s social media guidelines in the next charter review

Ministers prepare to hand new powers to Ofcom to regulate the broadcaster’s online news coverage

With the number of BBC bias complaints to Ofcom rocketing last year, the review will warn that ‘impartiality’ is the ‘quid pro quo of the licence fee’.

To tackle the issue, ministers will enable the regulator to hold the BBC to account in ‘a more robust way’. Ofcom can only issue an ‘opinion’ on whether any online material has observed the BBC’s editorial guidelines.

But under the review, the regulator will have ‘formal enforcement powers’, which could allow it to issue fines over rule breaches.

The BBC has been told to increase independent scrutiny of the way it handles complaints to ensure concerns are dealt with fairly.

It follows a string of impartiality controversies about the corporation’s highest paid star Gary Lineker and his political tweets

A Whitehall source said recent incidents that had raised questions about impartiality have been ‘forefront of ministers’ minds’ when formulating the changes.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport revealed the changes and pointed out ‘impartiality continues to be an ongoing issue for audiences’, noting concerns about objectivity made up the majority of complaints.

The BBC and Ofcom have agreed to implement the recommendations in the review, it is understood.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘No other organisation takes its commitment to impartiality more seriously.’

An Ofcom spokesman said: ‘We welcome the Government’s report.’