DORSET and New Forest MPs have added their signatures to a letter to the BBC to “express concern” about its choice of language while reporting on Brexit.

Thirty-four MPs – including former ministers – have written to the organisation’s director general criticising its use of terms such as ‘cliff edge’ and ‘crashing out’ which they said were “not neutral”.

Among them are New Forest West MP, Desmond Swayne, Bournemouth West MP, Conor Burns, and Mid Dorset and North Poole MP, Michael Tomlinson.

Sent on Friday, the letter to Lord Hall “requests” that BBC reporters and presenters “use language which is less partisan” when reporting on Brexit issues.

“We write to express concern about the BBC’s use of the terms such as ‘cliff edge’ and ‘crashing out’ to describe a departure from the EU on WTO (World Trade Organisation) terms,” the letter reads.

“We believe that such language is not neutral and expresses a point of view about the consequences of leaving the EU without an overall withdrawal treaty.

“Yet these terms are used routinely and frequently by presenters and journalists as part of the BBC’s news and political coverage of Brexit.”

The letter requests that Lord Hall “advises” BBC reporters and presenters to use “less partisan” language.

Brexit-supporting Mr Tomlinson said that that the BBC needed to review the neutrality of the terms it has used as part of its Brexit reporting and that “clearer editorial guidance” should be issued by the organisation, if necessary.

“Neutral and unbiased,” he said. “That is what the BBC must be.

“But all too often the language used is far from neutral.

“I have coined the phrase ‘a clean global Brexit’ instead of ‘crashing out’ (to describe trading on WTO terms).

“Wouldn’t it be refreshing to hear this term being used – yes, even by the BBC!

“I have signed the letter to Lord Hall asking that this matter be reviewed and if necessary, clearer editorial guidance issued.”

Other signatories of the letter include former Brexit minister David Jones and the ex-Northern Ireland Secretary, Theresa Villiers.

In a letter to Julian Knight MP in 2017, Lord Hall defended the BBC's coverage and that the BBC goes to “great lengths” to ensure that it is balanced.

"Impartiality has always been the cornerstone of BBC News," he said. "It remains so today.

"We do not take it for granted and we go to great lengths to ensure that we balance our coverage and address all issues from a wide range of different perspectives.

"It is one of the reasons why the public trusts the BBC more than any other source of news."

The BBC has confirmed that it has received the letter and that it will respond "in due course".