BBC's documentary on British Empire accused of 'doing violence to the truth' in 'breach of impartiality guidelines'

A BBC documentary on the British Empire has been accused of "doing violence to the truth in a breach of its own impartiality guidelines".

Academic and life peer Nigel Biggar took issue with David Olusoga’s Empire, arguing it told an "overwhelmingly negative story".

The broadcaster's documentary claims to "explore the history and legacy of the British Empire, how it shaped Britain and the world and how it continues to shape the identities of billions of people".

After first raising his concerns over its impartiality earlier this year, Lord Biggar doubled down and raised the matter once again with the BBC.

He said he was "dissatisfied" that the public broadcaster had answered his complaint, insisting that it "still will not confront the central issue".

He set out four ways he believed the BBC broke its own rules.

First, he argued that the documentary failed to give a voice to an "appropriate range of significant views" in its discussion of a set of "highly and activley controversial" historical and political issues.

Secondly, the life peer argued that Mr Olusoga's selection of "marginalised or overlooked histories" was "racially discriminatory and political biased".

Next, he asserted that the documentary was not clearly labelled as an opinion piece - nor does it "acknowledge an appropriate range of alternative views or give them proper weight".

Lastly, the Oxford academic noted that the none of the other programmes which are listed as "offering balance over time is as overwhelmingly positive as Empire is overwhelmingly negative".

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