WITH the coalition government in place a worry arises over BBC balance between the parties. If the old format is carried on, in programmes such as Question Time, there would be a Conservative, a Labour and a Lib-Dem panellist. This would give the government two panellists and the opposition one, which is the opposite of previous arrangements.

I would therefore like to propose that, on such programmes, the Tories and Lib-Dems should alternate appearances, the main opposition, Labour, should appear on each occasion and the Greens, Nationalists and Northern Ireland parties should take turns in appearing along with the odd bods the BBC dig up for these programmes.

I feel that the above is the only way for the BBC to achieve its duty of balance in the new situation.

STEVE THOMPSON Norman Road Swindon