Laura Kuenssberg's flagship Sunday politics show on the BBC has been slammed with complaints accusing it of "bias" after she neglected to interview Green Party leader Zack Polanski after the Green Party Conference. The party had originally requested a one-on-one interview with Kuenssberg when Polanski was elected leader, but were refused - and instead told they'd get time during the conference.
However, this never materialised. Viewers on social media accused the show of being "biased", with one tweeting: "Laura Kuenssberg's bias couldn't be louder!" as another agreed: "When will the BBC realise that people like Fiona Bruce and Laura Kuenssberg are ruining the BBC's remit for political neutrality?"
Now the BBC has issued a response after complaints from viewers, stating: "Zack Polanski and the Greens have not been denied the opportunity to appear on the programme but rather have been offered a chance to do the show on a date when they will be given more time. Mr Polanski has accepted the invitation to do an interview next week (19th October).
"The reason Mr Polanski didn't appear on the programme the week of the Green conference was because of severe time constraints.
"This was because there were overlapping party conferences (it was the Conservative conference that week as well) and the breaking news of the synagogue attack in Manchester.
"The programme team felt that there was not enough time to do an in-depth interview with Mr Polanski and so instead offered him an opportunity to do an interview on next week's show where there will be more time and space to discuss Green Party policies."
The BBC statement added: "We'd also note Mr Polanski has already done several BBC interviews in response to the Manchester attacks including Politics Live on the 2nd October where he discussed the Manchester synagogue attack. Mr Polanski also appeared on Today on the 3rd October."
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