The BBC has been accused of imposing a ‘metropolitan bias’ on country people – with its ‘north London socialism’ and use of Chris Packham.

In a new survey by the Regional Moorland Groups 38 per cent of rural folk felt the broadcaster’s coverage was ‘inaccurate’.

Only two per cent said it was ‘very accurate’ while 29 per cent called it ‘fairly accurate’. Another 30 per cent stated they did not know.

Among the complaints were an alleged lack of coverage for ‘those who actually work the land’ and a downplaying of the role of badgers in spreading bovine tuberculosis.

Sir Johnny Scott, a former BBC presenter and farming writer, told The Telegraph: ‘Over the last 20 years, since the 2004 hunting ban, the BBC has become increasingly tied to the political identity of north London socialism and lobbying by single-issue animal rights extremists.

‘There is a very obvious institutional bias within the BBC and partisan campaigning among certain presenters against rural issues, in particular, where it involves culture and heritage.’

Meanwhile the Regional Moorland Groups, which supports farmers and gamekeepers, has written a letter to the incoming BBC director-general and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy calling for more ‘balanced coverage’.

The group said: ‘When the BBC covers moorland management, grouse shooting, predator control or upland farming, the voices of those who actually work the land … are marginalised or absent entirely.

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The BBC has been accused of imposing a ‘metropolitan bias’ on country people – with its ‘north London socialism’ and use of Chris Packham (pictured)

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‘There is a very obvious institutional bias within the BBC and partisan campaigning among certain presenters against rural issues, in particular,’ a former presenter at the organisation said

‘Instead, airtime is given to urban-based campaigning organisations whose staff have little direct experience of rural livelihoods or the complexities of moorland ecology and management.

‘This is not balance. This is not impartiality. This is ideological framing masquerading as environmental journalism.’

The Regional Moorland Groups took particular issue with a BBC documentary about the badger cull presented by Brian May, lead guitarist of Queen.

Farmers have since claimed Mr May did not pay sufficient attention to the role of badgers in spreading TB and instead presented the disease as a problem linked to farm hygeine.

Following the documentary’s broadcast, a spokesman for the National Farmers Union said: ‘This is exactly the reason why an unchallenged documentary with no journalistic balance shouldn’t have been allowed on such a complex subject as bovine TB.’

The Regional Moorland Groups also said that when the farmers tax raid was first revealed in Reeves’ Budget the topic was given just 30 seconds of airtime on the flagship rural BBC show The Archers.

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, accused the BBC of having a ‘metropolitan bias’ that had ‘never been addressed’.

Chris Packham has also proved a particular sore point amid complaints the presenter, who has hosted the BBC nature series Springwatch, including Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, since 2009, is a champion of the ‘anti-field sports campaign’.

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The Regional Moorland Group also said that when the farmers tax raid was first revealed in Reeves’ Budget the topic was given just 30 seconds of airtime on the flagship rural BBC show The Archers. Pictured: Farmers take part in a protest with their tractors in Whitehall, London, ahead of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivering her Budget

A spokesman for the BBC said: ‘The BBC is committed to covering rural affairs and reflecting a breadth and diversity of opinion in our output, per our Editorial Guidelines. We’re proud of the range of dedicated programming on TV and radio, as well as covering rural stories on BBC News from across the UK.

‘The BBC’s Rural Advisory Committee includes a wide range of people outside the organisation who share insights from farming communities and provide feedback to the BBC to help ensure our content is accurate and relevant.’

Mr Packham has been approached for comment.