Accusations of political bias are swirling around two high profile appointments at the BBC, Chris Patten the impending chairman of the BBC Trust and Nicolai Gentchev’s appointment as political editor of Question Time.

In the blue corner stands Patten who has steadfastly refused to relinquish his Tory party membership card, reports the guardian. In the red corner is Gentchev who stands accused in The Telegraph of being an unreformed lefty including a stint at the Socialist review as recently as 2003.

In the middle stands the BBC who are being buffeted by brickbats from all sides at the alleged impartiality of the politicised duo.

Patten is adamant that there is no “requirement” to rescind his membership despite fellow Tory Philip Davies suggesting he could be perceived as a “stooge,” however Patten noted that “previous appointments haven't been political vestal virgins,” and that he “didn’t think” that these fears would be realised.

Gentchev for his part replaces Question Time’s incumbent editor Ed Havard, much to the dismay of David Dimbleby, as the show readies for a flit to Glasgow but Gentchev insists this northward jump won’t be accompanied by a leftward lurch.