Labour Party chairman Charles Clarke and Conservative Party chairman David Davis have united to urge the BBC not to cut back on heavyweight political coverage.

In a letter to BBC chairman Gavyn Davis, they warned: "We believe that such a fundamental downgrading of political coverage would not be consistent with the BBC's position as a publicly funded public service broadcaster and that it is not the appropriate response".

Forum Response: BBC

A spokesman for the BBC told ePolitix.com: "There is absolutely no question of the BBC dumbing down our political coverage. We are conducting a review but we are looking at bringing in imaginative and innovative techniques to our coverage. The BBC will always be totally committed to our existing audience."