The last few days have seen a rapidly coarsening Labour debate over who is ultimately responsible for the party’s historic election loss. Corbyn-sceptics have criticised the leadership’s perceived failures while supporters have been flailing around in a desperate attempt to blame anyone but the leader himself.

One such Corbyn cheerleader is Andy McDonald, who spoke to the BBC’s Today programme this morning. During the interview, Mr McDonald poured scorn on the ‘alleged toxic position of Jeremy Corbyn’ before engaging in a full-scale assault on the perceived anti-Labour bias of the corporation. He told Justin Webb:

Don’t get me started on the media Justin, I’m very worried about our public service broadcaster…

When the Today presenter asked a further question, the MP for Middlesbrough tried to suggest that this was also evidence of the BBC’s alleged bias.

This is very serious because always when you come to a position like this and you make a criticisms, especially of the BBC, you close me down.

Mr McDonald was then asked directly whether he believed auntie was partly responsible for the worst Labour defeat since 1935.

I am saying that they played a part. I am really worried about the drift, you’ve seen the catalogue of criticisms that we’re making…

We got this wrong but if the BBC are going to hold themselves out as somehow having conducted themselves in an impartial manner I think they’ve really got to have a look in the mirror.

Justin Webb then asked if McDonald thought the BBC had ‘assisted in Mr Corbyn losing’. The MP replied:

I think you played your part… Consciously, yes.

You can listen to the full exchange here: