Martine Croxall: BBC News presenter being investigated over impartiality

Presenter Martine Croxall is being investigated by BBC News for a "potential breach of impartiality".

The PA quality bureau has besides reported Croxall has been taken disconnected aerial until the probe is complete.

It follows complaints connected societal media that she displayed bias portion hosting Sunday's paper reappraisal programme.

During her introduction, aft Boris Johnson ruled himself out from the Conservative enactment race, Croxall told viewers she felt "gleeful".

The programme aired astir 90 minutes aft the erstwhile premier curate claimed to person capable enactment to advancement successful the Tory enactment race, but had decided to withdraw.

As The Papers programme began conscionable aft 22:30 connected Sunday evening, Croxall told viewers: "Well this is each precise breathtaking isn't it? Welcome to our lookahead to what the papers volition beryllium bringing america tomorrow. Am I allowed to beryllium this gleeful? Well I am."

She was past seen asking her guests: "Can we adjacent amusement you the beforehand pages conscionable yet, person they arrived? No they haven't arrived. It's each a small bit, you know, lastminute.com isn't it? Because each the beforehand pages were astir apt retired of day by the clip we received them."

On Monday, a BBC spokesperson said: "BBC News is urgently reviewing past night's variation of The Papers connected the News Channel for a imaginable breach of impartiality.

"It is imperative that we support the highest editorial standards. We person processes successful spot to uphold our standards, and these processes person been activated."

Croxall has not yet publically commented connected the matter.

One Conservative MP, Neil O'Brien, called the the presenter's comments "self destructive".

Nick Timothy, antecedently an advisor to erstwhile premier curate Theresa May, added: "Whatever you deliberation of Johnson, if you attraction astir the BBC you cannot deliberation this is successful immoderate mode acceptable from 1 of its presenters."

It has not been made wide by Croxall oregon the BBC whether she was referring to Mr Johnson's withdrawal oregon to the fast-moving quality agenda.