Row as BBC cuts back on politics

Senior politicians expressed alarm today that the BBC's planned shake-up of its political coverage will lead to further "dumbing down".

Conservative Party chairman Theresa May said she was "deeply sceptical" as to whether the changes would avoid "deterioration in the coverage of politics in the main BBC television news bulletins".

"Most of the new programming is concentrated at times of low available audiences," she added.

The BBC is to axe On The Record, presented by John Humphrys, and Despatch Box, the late-night political show presented by Andrew Neil. It plans to spend an additional £5 million on attracting younger viewers to Westminster coverage, including a new Thursday evening political programme following Question Time. There will also be a new Saturday morning political show on BBC2.

Mr Humphrys said he had confidence in Jeremy Vine, who is to replace him as the presenter of the new Sunday programme.

"Jeremy is a very able presenter and a good journalist," he said.

Shadow secretary for culture, media and sport, John Whittingdale, said he was "concerned the BBC is removing two fairly well-established political programmes". "On the

Record has proved itself to be a very good programme for providing in-depth analysis of political issues," he said.

>£ITV is set to clash with a TV regulator over plans to shift News At Ten back an hour to make room for blockbuster drama, Dr Zhivago. The Independent Television Commission has indicated it would not welcome a bid by ITV to move the news back to 11pm on 24 November to secure maximum ratings.