BBC Scotland has been accused of depicting a “false picture of balance” after a segment on Boris Johnson’s fight to remain as Prime Minister.
The broadcaster has been asked to explain its methodology after a “voxpop” segment on Reporting Scotland saw members of the public asked their views on Johnson remaining in No 10.
At the time of the broadcast, Johnson had lost dozens of ministers from his ailing government, including two Cabinet secretaries, but had staunchly refused to step down.
READ MORE: Watch Glasgow react to the news that Boris Johnson has resigned as Prime Minister
The BBC asked six members of the public, in the Tory-held Westminster seats of Dumfries and Galloway and Banff and Buchan, what they thought of Johnson holding out.
Of the people shown on the broadcast, three supported the beleaguered Prime Minister remaining in office, while three said he should step down.
A seventh person, who appeared on the edge of the screen while another expressed support for Johnson, appeared to say that he should leave No 10.
Polling conducted by YouGov of 1763 British adults on July 7, but before news broke of Johnson’s plan to resign, found that 60% of people in the UK thought he should go compared to 30% who thought he should stay.
In Scotland, the split was starker. While 66% of Scots adults thought Johnson should resign, just 17% said that he should remain in office.
An SNP source told The National that the BBC should explain their methodology, saying the broadcaster was giving a “false” idea of balance in the public’s views.
They said: “BBC bosses know that the vast majority of people across Scotland want Boris Johnson out as soon as possible, so why Reporting Scotland depicted a false picture of balance here is baffling.
“It would be helpful if the BBC showed their methodology on how these views are gathered and used – a little transparency would be very welcome.”
The calls follow similar ones made in June – to which the BBC did not respond – after the SNP raised concerns that the broadcaster's use of “voxpops” did not reflect the public’s mood on a second independence referendum.
The BBC has been approached for comment.
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