Last week, the veteran journalist announced he was stepping away from the BBC and landed a new gig as the flagship presenter the rival new television network GB News.
This move came just months after the BBC axed the Andrew Neil Show as part of a huge organisational restructure.
But the corporation has come under fire by former MEP Rupert Lowe who branded the corporation “fools” for letting him go and added smoke to the Defund the BBC fire.
Mr Lowe tweeted: “Andrew Neil is one of the top journalists in the country.
“The BBC are fools for letting him go, he was the only one in that organisation who politicians actually fears.
“Andrew Neil was relentlessly tough, but he was always fair.
“Yet another reason to Defund the BBC.”
Mr Neil has been one of the BBC’s top political broadcasters over the past 20 years, fronting programmes such as This Week and Daily Politics.
The Andrew Neil Show began last autumn in the week’s leading up to the general election in December, and the UK’s departure from the European Union.
READ MORE: Andrew Neil shuts down Susanna Reid on why he quit the BBC
“As for the future, I’m delighted to announce I have accepted the post of Chairman of GB News, a new news channel to be launched early in the New Year bringing new perspectives to the news.
“I will also be presenting a new nightly prime-time show on GB News. Watch this space.”
With news of Mr Neil’s new show, the BBC tweeted: “We’d like to give our heartfelt thanks to Andrew for his many years of work for the BBC, during which he’s informed and entertained millions of viewers.
“From his early broadcasting days of Despatch Box in the 1990s to his recent forensic and agenda-setting political interviews, he has proved a formidable and hugely talented broadcaster.
“For years, he was at the heart of the irreverent and much-loved This Week and played a key role in the Daily and Sunday Politics, Politics Live and the BBC’s general election coverage.
“We wish Andrew every success in his new role; we’re sorry the US election coverage will be his last BBC presentation work for the foreseeable future but he will always be welcome at the BBC.”
As part of the restructuring programme this year, a total of 520 jobs were cut but there was talk Mr Neil would host a new BBC One interview show.
Announcing the latest cuts, the BBC said at the time: “We remain committed to Andrew Neil’s in-depth interviews (as well as the Budget, US Election and other Specials).
“The Andrew Neil Show will not be returning but we’re in discussions about a new interview series on BBC One.”
