AN MP has launched a scathing attack on female BBC newsreaders - suggesting they might have had "too much botox".

David Amess, the Conservative representative for Southend West, complained that "one or two" of the corporation's top women stars kept smiling inappropriately when introducing serious stories.

His speech, which came during a Commons debate yesterday, also accused the BBC of being "anti-cuts", criticised the large salaries paid to its executives and claimed it portrayed Israel negatively.

The end of the digital switchover project in 2012 "would be a good time to think once again about how the BBC is funded", Mr Amess said.

The corporation was defended by Tory culture minister Ed Vaizey, who called it "one of the finest broadcasters in the world".

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