Newsnight's Dominic Cummings introduction 'did not meet impartiality standards' BBC says

The BBC has said that an introduction to last night's Newsnight which discussed the Dominic Cummings lockdown row "did not meet our standards of due impartiality".

A statement from the broadcaster posted on Twitter said: "The BBC must uphold the highest standards of due impartiality in its news output.

"We've reviewed the entirety of last night's Newsnight, including the opening section, and while we believe the programme contained fair, reasonable and rigorous journalism, we feel that we should have done more to make clear the introduction was a summary of the questions we would examine, with all the accompanying evidence, in the rest of the programme.

"As it was, we believe the introduction we broadcast did not meet our standards of due impartiality.

"Our staff have been reminded of the guidelines."

Emily Maitlis opened the show by saying the British prime minister's chief adviser had "broken the rules" and "the country can see that, and it's shocked the government cannot".

She added: "The longer ministers and the prime minister tell us he worked within [the rules], the more angry the response to this scandal is likely to be.

"He was the man, remember, who always got the public mood, who tagged the lazy label of elite on those who disagreed.

"He should understand that public mood now - one of fury, contempt and anguish."