A decision by the BBC to downgrade its political coverage would undermine the democratic process, Iain Duncan Smith said yesterday.

The BBC's governors meet today to discuss future political coverage, and the Tory leader urged them to reject a proposal to scrap "On the Record" and "Despatch Box" - programmes which feature lengthy interviews with politicians.

Duncan Smith also pledged that he would reverse any changes the government might make to its dealings with political journalists in Westminster.