BBC headquarters in London
BBC will continue to refer to Islamic State by its common name Reuters

In late June 120 MPs wrote to the BBC calling on the broadcaster to change the name it used for terrorist group "Islamic State" to "Daesh".

Among the MPs were the SNP's Alex Salmond and Boris Johnson, the Conservative mayor of London. They asked for the change so that the news source appeared "impartial to the terror group". The phrase Daesh is an acronym that, when translated from Arabic, means Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (Syria). But it can also be interpreted as a play on words with the meaning "one who sows discord".

In a response issued on 30 June, Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, said: "The BBC would use terms such as the 'Islamic State group' to distinguish it from an actual, recognised state... We will also continue to use other qualifiers when appropriate, [example] extremists, militants, fighters etc. To avoid overuse we will also usually revert to IS after one mention of the Islamic State group."

Read the full letters below:

MPs letter to BBC

Letter to BBC Re Daesh from UK MPs

Letter from BBC to MPs

Letter from BBC to UK MPs

Islamic State Isis Alex Salmond