BBC issues on-air apology over Tory MP 'U-turn'

The BBC has made an on-air apology to Conservative MP Andrew Tyrie for broadcasting news footage that gave the "misleading impression" that he had been silenced by Downing Street.

The news report appeared to suggest that Steve Hilton, one of David Cameron's top advisers, had led Tyrie off for a private talk after his criticism of the government's growth strategy was broadcast on the eve of the Tory party conference.

Following the discussion, Tyrie - the chairman of the Treasury select committee - appeared to have changed his views on the economy and welcomed the speech of chancellor George Osborne.

Footage showed Hilton putting his arm round Tyrie, while the BBC correspondent said that he had been given a "talking to" before giving televised interviews about the chancellor's address.

However, the corporation has now accepted that the report did not clarify that Tyrie had already made clear to journalists that his opinions on growth had changed before the incident with Hilton, reports PA.

Yesterday at 5pm on the BBC News channel, anchor Huw Edwards made an on-air apology to the MP, and admitted that the report gave a "misleading impression" about the incident.

Edwards said: "Last month we broadcast some reports from the Conservative party conference which fell below our usual standards.

"Our reports gave a misleading impression that Andrew Tyrie MP had been influenced by a Downing Street official to say something he did not believe to be true. We have apologised to Mr Tyrie for our broadcasts."

Tyrie said that he accepted the BBC's apology, adding: "I am extremely grateful to the BBC, and for doing this without needing to make a formal complaint."

Video footage of the offending report was also removed from the BBC website yesterday afternoon.

Last month, the European Commission demanded an "unqualified apology" from the BBC over what it claimed was the "disgraceful" treatment of one of its spokesmen by Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight.