BBC abandons plans to hire controversial left-wing presenter

SPOOKED BBC bosses last night did a U-turn on hiring a controversial left-wing presenter after a huge impartiality row.

Matthew Stadlen, 42, has spent years railing against Boris Johnson, Brexit and the Tories — accusing them of pandering to racists.

On Thursday he tweeted that he would be standing in for a regular presenter on Radio 5 Live — and would have to “return to impartiality”.

But hours later bosses confirmed he would no longer be filling the role.

A BBC spokesperson said: “We had offered him some temporary work but our plans have changed.”

A senior government source told Guido Fawkes’ blog: “Matthew’s social media suggests he doesn’t just hold private political views, he’s nakedly partisan.

“These aren’t historic tweets, he was slinging mud at the Government a few weeks ago.”

It came hours after Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries launched a probe into political bias within the corporation.

She warned: “The Government is committed to ensuring the BBC is more impartial, more accessible and more reflective of our country’s variety of viewpoints.”