The Conservative Party Co-Chairman Dr Liam Fox and Shadow Home Secretary David Davis have called on the BBC and broadcasting watchdog Ofcom to ensure that political coverage during the Hartlepool by-election on September 30 is fair and impartial.

The Tories have asked BBC chairman Michael Grade to explain what guidance will be given to his staff, given that between now and September 30, the Liberal Democrats and Labour will hold their conferences - and benefit from round the clock coverage in advance of the by-election - while the publicity surrounding the Conservative conference will come too late to influence events in Hartlepool.

Commenting on the dilemma faced by the BBC in fulfilling the duty of covering political conferences while at the same time meeting the requirements of fairness and impartiality spelt out in the Representation of the People Act, Dr Fox (the Tory Co-Chairman not the Pop Idol judge) said:

“The BBC has been put in a very difficult situation. On the one hand they have a public service broadcasting duty to make sure the public see coverage of the political party conferences, but on the other they have to meet the requirements of the Representation of the People Act giving impartial broadcasting in the run up to an election.”