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BBC hires Corbynista political fact-checker

Oscar Bentley (Credit: BBC)

Can the BBC ever get it right? Just weeks after the Beeb was embroiled in an impartiality row over the rogue tweets of their star presenter Gary Lineker, another spat over bias has reared its ugly head. In September, the broadcaster hired a new political fact-checker, Oscar Bentley, to comb through political debates in the run up to the next general election. But the Daily Mail has now revealed that Bentley might not quite be the bastion of impartiality one would hope.

According to the Mail, he is a ‘lifelong Labour supporter’ who canvassed for disgraced former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at the last general election and has in the past regularly taken to bashing Tories on social media. Indeed, a choice selection of Bentley’s tweets supplied by the Daily Mail, found before his account was made private (much to Mr Steerpike’s disappointment), makes for enlightening reading.

It appears the former University of York student, who proudly proclaimed himself a ‘lefty student journo’ during his time there, has taken much joy over the years from mocking those who support the Conservative party.  One

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Steerpike
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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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