Morning Star editor Richard Bagley wrote to BBC director general Lord Hall yesterday urging him to follow up a promise in front of MPs to consider including the paper in TV newspaper reviews.

Lord Hall was pressed about the broadcaster's continuing blackout of the Morning Star during exchanges with MPs at the Commons culture, media and sport select committee.

In response to an intervention by leading Labour backbencher Jim Sheridan, the BBC chief agreed to look into whether the Morning Star should be part of newspaper reviews.

Mr Sheridan intervened after fellow committee member Tory Philip Davies pursued his campaign against "left-wing bias" at the BBC and moaned about the number of copies of the Guardian purchased by the corporation.

Lord Hall said he would be looking to cut back on the numbers. He added: "I do think people need to read papers but they need to read a broad range of papers, clearly."

At this point Mr Sheridan chipped in: "Including the Morning Star?"

Lord Hall replied: "Including the Morning Star."

During a later exchange Mr Sheridan asked him: "Can you clarify whether the Morning Star will now be part of the newspaper review?"

Lord Hall responded by promising: "I will look into the Morning Star as well."

Nearly 90 MPs from five political parties signed a Commons early day motion two years ago demanding that the Morning Star be featured regularly on BBC TV and radio. But the BBC failed to act.

Headed by left-wing MP Ian Lavery, the motion called on then director general Mark Thompson to end the situation where the Morning Star "is rarely ever shown" on TV or mentioned on the radio.

It pointed out that the Star is the only socialist daily newspaper in the English language worldwide and that it has strong links with the trade unions.

Paisley MP Mr Sheridan said yesterday: "The Morning Star represents a significant view within the trade union and labour movement. It is only right that it should be shown in the reviews."

The BBC Trust has launched a review of the BBC's news and current affairs content, with a public consultation running until December 13.

Submissions can be made at:

http://tinyurl.com/bbcnewsrev