BBC QT accused of bias as viewers lash out at audience - 'Stacked deck of woke liberals!'

Rishi Sunak appeared to receive the roughest ride as he was heckled for suggesting he could withdraw the UK from the ECHR.

BBC host Fiona Bruce, who received criticism for allegedly "constantly interrupting" the potential four leaders, claimed the audience was representative of the wider electorate.

She said: "[Leaders] will stand here and answer questions from our audience which as always reflects the range of political sentiment across the whole country."

Sunak's ECHR exchange appeared to prompt the largest social media backlash.

A viewer said: "The Question Time audience must have been bussed in specially from Labour Central. The bias is shocking. I knew there was a reason that I hadn't watched it in years."

Another wrote: "That leaders debate on the BBC was so skewed to left-wing bias you just knew that Sunak would not get an easy ride. Not that he should but the lefty liberals always get a much softer interrogation and appreciative audience."

A third added: "A stacked deck of woke liberal audience. Rishi actually held up well considering the hostile audience and hostile Fiona Bruce. The BBC bias was out in force."

Arguing Ofcom needs to intervene, another viewer wrote: "BBC bias continues. Bruce can't resist interrupting Sunak's answers following the absolute right of audience members to put questions before he gives an answer. Shameful by Bruce regardless if you like his responses or not. Ofcom complaint going in."

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Before being heckled by the audience, Sunak said: "If a foreign court, including the European court, forces me to choose between our country's national security and membership of that court, I'm going to choose our country's national security every single time."

The BBC already came under fire after Reform UK's leader Nigel Farage was not invited to the event.

A user said: "Absolute bias b******s from BBC, YET AGAIN Where is Nigel Farage? Lib Dems are nowhere near any relevance, same for SNP Yet, still no Reform UK?! Ofcom turn a blind eye AGAIN."

Another wrote: "No Farage, the second most popular party according to polls ... The spineless BBC and on an England Game night."

A third added: "Does nobody at the BBC grasp how much injury might be self-inflicted by excluding Nigel Farage, then opening with that BS?"

Bruce appeared to defend the decision to omit Farage from tonight's debate when she introduced the special edition of Question Time in York.

She said: "No desk for the usual panel tonight, just the four leaders of Great Britain’s main parties, one after another, who will stand here and answer questions from our audience."

However, a number of opinion polls put the populist party above the Tories, including Redfield & Wilton.

Redfield & Wilton put Reform UK support at 19 per cent, with the Conservative Party reduced to just 18 per cent.

However, Labour remained on top with 42 per cent support.

The Reform UK leader, who is performing well in a number of opinion polls, complained about not being invited to the event.

Farage said: "As we are now ahead of the Conservatives in the polls, I demand that Reform UK is a part of this debate. If the BBC want a fight with me on this, they can have one."

The BBC has since announced that it will host an additional Question Time special featuring representatives from Reform UK and the Green Party on June 28.

In response, Farage said: "I am pleased that the BBC acknowledge that support for Reform UK has been growing in this election.

"We must now be included in the head-to-head debate with Sunak and Starmer on June 26."