A former BBC executive has admitted that there is an “issue of trust” with the corporation after a bombshell poll exposed public attitudes.

The poll revealed that 38 per cent consider the corporation to be “ineffective” at staying independent from the Government.

Speaking to GB News presenters Andrew Pierce and Miriam Cates, Roger Bolton explained why he thinks the broadcaster is struggling to get the public onside.

“I think it’s an issue of trust. I think there is an issue and always has been an issue about how independent the BBC is,” the ex-presenter ceded.

Pointing out that in the poll, 43 per cent of people said that the BBC was fulfilling its independent role, the GB News guest added: “It is worrying. I think there’s a wider context.

“Trust in a whole range of institutions is diminishing. Be it Parliament or broadcasters elsewhere.”

He further argued that social media is significantly to blame, as it has led to people growing more distrustful of authority “in any form”.

He says it has resulted in people increasingly opting for outlets that reflect their own views.

“The BBC pays great attention to the views of the Government of the day because it wants to survive,” Mr Bolton continued.

“And there’s always been this tension in the BBC between the asset, where those who are charged with preserving the institution and securing its future, and the journalists who I believe are largely independent and are trying to do their best and periodically get big rules.

“Governments lean on the BBC,” he added.

The BBC survey of 872,701 viewers found that 91 per cent stressed the importance of its independence, while 64 per cent believe the organisation offers a “valuable public service”.

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Further analysis revealed that just over half of respondents believe that the public service reflects the entirety of the UK – in all of its regional glory.

Governments have historically attempted to reform the controversial organisation, such as former Prime Ministers Harold Wilson and Margaret Thatcher.

Still, Mr Bolton insisted that there was “a lot of good” in the corporation, despite the poll offering a damning verdict on the state of its independence.

“It is true that the BBC listens intently to what the Government says, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it obeys what the Government says. I don’t think it has done,” he said.

“BBC executives once said ‘when the when the country is divided, the BBC is on the rack’.

“The BBC likes nothing better than consensus.”

In response, Miriam agreed: “When the country itself is polarising, certainly in the political world, people on the right think that the BBC is biased, the left, but people on the left think the BBC is biased to the right.

“So perhaps they’re walking just about the right line here.”