BBC accused of omitting survey results that showed public opposition to abortion

The BBC is being accused of partially omitting survey results that showed the British public is not in favor of decriminalizing abortion.

A survey conducted by polling firm ICM and commissioned by the network for its "Abortion on Trial" show has found that there is no widespread support for scrapping its abortion law, which includes a requirement that two doctors have to approve each termination.

However, when the BBC aired the program last week, the result was not mentioned, but other findings in support of abortion were included.

Anne Robinson, the presenter of the show, had quoted various results from the survey, including that 87 percent of religious people were in favor of abortion being carried out in some or all circumstances. She also noted that only 15 percent of people believe that a male partner's consent should be required for an abortion.

The producers of the show have been accused of "cherry-picking" the results, as other findings of the ICM survey have been left out as well.

The hour-long program made no mention of the survey findings that showed a majority of the British public object to abortion based on gender and only a minority think the woman's "right to choose" is paramount, while most disagree with terminating on the grounds of disability.

"How can people be expected to have a fair and proper debate if facts are suppressed?" Conservative MP Fiona Bruce told Daily Mail. "It undermines credibility to cherry-pick polling results to reflect a lobby which programme makers may be sympathetic," she added.

The findings also revealed that only three percent said that it was never acceptable for a woman to have an abortion. But only 46 percent are in favor of abortion in case of rape, and only 45 percent believe it is acceptable if the mother's life is in danger.

The survey further noted that only six percent believe that there should be no legal time limit on abortion.

The program, which was recorded at Robinson's Gloucestershire home, involved a debate among nine people holding different opinions on abortion. The show also featured Lord Steele, the architect of the 1967 Abortion Act, who suggested that abortion should be completely decriminalized.

In response to the allegation of omitting parts of the survey, the BBC issued a statement saying: "It is completely wrong to suggest that the BBC suppressed the results of the poll. They were released to the press prior to transmission, were referred to throughout the programme and have been published in full on the ICM website."

"The production team went to great lengths to ensure Abortion On Trial was fair and impartial, using expert consultants (both anti-abortion and pro-choice), including contributors representing a wide range of perspectives and experience," the network added.