EXETER MP Ben Bradshaw has written to the head of the BBC seeking "clarification and reassurance" about a meeting he had in Downing Street to apparently discuss coverage of government spending cuts.

Mark Thompson, the director general of the corporation reportedly met one of Prime Minister David Cameron's senior aides to talk about offering prominent exposure to senior government figures on BBC channels in the coming weeks.

The meeting appeared to be an attempt by Mr Thompson to assure senior Tory figures that the BBC was not biased against the Government.

It came on the same day as the BBC chief admitted in an interview that the corporation was guilty of a "massive bias to the left" in the past.

Mr Thompson was photographed arriving at Number 10 holding a memo stating that the BBC was ready to put its coverage of spending cuts into 'context'.

Mr Bradshaw, who is Shadow Culture Secretary, said Mr Thompson should consider releasing the briefing papers he was seen holding as he walked into Downing Street.

In his letter, Mr Bradshaw said: "Given the systematic assaults on the BBC by the Conservative Party in opposition and their continued attacks on the Corporation in Government, including their threats to the licence fee, it is paramount that you avoid any impression that the BBC's editorial independence may have been compromised."

He also asked if similar meetings had taken place with Gordon Brown or his staff.