𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

A row has erupted online after the BBC was forced to defend Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for not appearing on Question Time last night (March 26), despite it being broadcast from Clacton. Former star of The Apprentice Thomas Skinner was on the panel alongside Labour’s Jake Richards, Tory MP Tom Tugendhat and Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran for the instalment.

Speculation was mounting online that Skinner had replaced Farage on the panel, and he was being heavily criticised on social media for not taking part in the discussion, which was held in his own constituency. In response to the claims, the BBC has taken the rare decision to issue a statement on the Reform Leader’s “absence” from the political programme, which was hosted by Fiona Bruce.

Before the programme aired, Farage penned on X: “I wasn’t able to take part in #BBCQT from Clacton tonight, as we were told MPs are not allowed to appear on the show in their own constituencies. I’m sure I’ll be back on before too long!”

His statement was questioned, with Labour peer George Foulkes calling it “another lie” while Dover MP and Labour minister Mike Tapp replied: “I seem to remember being on Question Time, a few months ago, in Dover … my constituency. You were too scared to even put a Reform MP up for tonight, it seems. Weak.”

Express.co.uk contacted the BBC, which released its own statement on X defending Farage. The post said: “There is a longstanding policy on Question Time not to invite MPs on in their local constituencies unless it’s for a single-issue special programme. This is why Mike Tapp MP appeared on the panel in his constituency for the immigration special in Dover.”

The statement was questioned by users who mentioned how former Clacton MP Giles Watling appeared on Question Time previously, when it was broadcast from Clacton in 2018, while he was the MP. However, Watling was a last-minute replacement for Liz Truss, who was stuck on a train at the time.

Following the BBC’s response, LibDem councillor Callum Robertson said he had submitted a Freedom of Information Request to “find out the specific” Question Time policy.

Other viewers accused the show of being biased, with one person sharing: “Not only do you invite Farage on regularly, you even make a special defence when he doesn’t want to come. Total bias.”

Another added: “What the f*** are BBC Question time thinking? They must be losing viewers by the thousands! Their bias is so embarrassing and completely unacceptable.”

Despite the backlash, someone else said: “People complain about bias on BBC Question Time, yet continue to watch it every week. Broadcasters don’t respond to outrage, they respond to data.”

Another added: “Unpopular thought – why do people keep watching Question Time, but then moan about its bias? I have not watched it for years. If more people stopped, it would send a clear message to programme makers and the host.”

Question Time episodes can be streamed on BBC iPlayer.