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BBC defends Mark Thompson's Downing Street visit	BBC defends Mark Thompson's Downing Street visit
2010-09-03 02:30:05 UTC	2010-09-03 03:50:05 UTC (about 1 hour later)
The BBC has denied the director general compromised its independence by visiting Downing Street to discuss coverage of spending cuts.	The BBC has denied the director general compromised its independence by visiting Downing Street to discuss coverage of spending cuts.
A spokesman said Mark Thompson had discussed the possible participation of ministers in programmes about the spending review.	A spokesman said Mark Thompson had discussed the possible participation of ministers in programmes about the spending review.
He also said the BBC would discuss this issue with all main political parties.	He also said the BBC would discuss the issue with all main political parties.
Ed Miliband, one of the Labour leadership candidates, told the Daily Mail the meeting was "deeply worrying".	Ed Miliband, one of the Labour leadership candidates, told the Daily Mail the meeting was "deeply worrying".
Mr Thompson had made it repeatedly clear that the impartiality and independence of the BBC were paramount, the corporation's spokesman added.	Mr Thompson had made it repeatedly clear that the impartiality and independence of the BBC were paramount, the corporation's spokesman added.
Mr Thompson has been pictured walking into Downing Street holding a memo from the BBC's head of news, describing its new season of programmes about the government's spending review.	Mr Thompson has been pictured walking into Downing Street holding a memo from the BBC's head of news, describing its new season of programmes about the government's spending review.
Mr Miliband said that Mr Thompson had "a list of programme ideas which appeared to showcase Tory economic policies of savage, indiscriminate cuts".	Mr Miliband said that Mr Thompson had "a list of programme ideas which appeared to showcase Tory economic policies of savage, indiscriminate cuts".
Labour MP Michael Dugher, once a senior aide to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, told the Daily Telegraph: "The BBC should be standing up for its independence and should not be bullied by Cameron's aides with the threat of cutbacks."	Labour MP Michael Dugher, once a senior aide to former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, told the Daily Telegraph: "The BBC should be standing up for its independence and should not be bullied by Cameron's aides with the threat of cutbacks."
Deputy director general Mark Byford, who is responsible for all the corporation's journalism, wrote in a blog on 2 September about the planned coverage that the BBC "has an important role to play to clarify the issues for our audiences - to help them make sense of different ideas and points of view".	Deputy director general Mark Byford, who is responsible for all the corporation's journalism, wrote in a blog on 2 September about the planned coverage that the BBC "has an important role to play to clarify the issues for our audiences - to help them make sense of different ideas and points of view".
"Our aim is to provide insightful, objective programmes and expert analysis to help people understand the context and the potential options," Mr Byford added.	"Our aim is to provide insightful, objective programmes and expert analysis to help people understand the context and the potential options," Mr Byford added.
BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas said the director general was quoted on Thursday as saying that 30 years ago, in much of BBC current affairs, there was a "massive bias to the left" in terms of people's personal politics.	BBC media correspondent Torin Douglas said the director general was quoted on Thursday as saying that 30 years ago, in much of BBC current affairs, there was a "massive bias to the left" in terms of people's personal politics.