You can't be impartial on racism and bigotry

I'm often quick to defend the BBC against unjustified accusations of bias from both sides of the political spectrum.

It may not get everything right and licence fee payers have a right to hold it to account but, overall, it is a proud British institution.

One thing the BBC often hasn't got right is its rulings on what it believes to be matters of impartiality that are, in fact, not.

The corporation's Executive Complaints Unit ruled that Naga Munchetty breached guidelines by criticising Trump's "go back" to the "places from which they came" tweet by sharing her own experience of racism.

You cannot be impartial on a crime. You cannot be impartial on something that is disgusting and universally condemned. You cannot be impartial on racism.

I'm reminded of the brilliant Iain Lee's sacking from BBC Three Counties Radio four years ago after he stood up for the LGBT community against a homophobic Christian fundamentalist.

I fully support the need for BBC journalists to maintain political impartiality - for the sake of the BBC's credibility and so as not to frustrate licence fee payers - but that does not mean BBC presenters should be perceived to have hearts of stone and banned from using their platform to make a positive impact.