4 SEPTEMBER 1999, Page 26

Diagnosing bias

From Mr Richard Law Sir: Mr Clive Elliot's explanation for the domination of the BBC by the Left may only be half right (Letters, 28 August).

Years ago, the late Lord Hill of Luton, the 'Radio Doctor', soon after being appointed to the BBC by Harold Wilson, came to lunch at the small bank at which I then worked. When one of my colleagues reproached him about the BBC's bias, he replied, 'I know! But what can I do about it? There are plenty of literate and articu- late people about, whose views are right of centre, but few of them will work in the media. They tend, if I may say so looking round this table, to be much better employed — making money.'

Flattery, no doubt, but perhaps with some truth.

Richard Law

Nottingham Street, London W1