Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has stated that the BBC must prioritize restoring public trust following criticism that a Panorama documentary misled viewers through the editing of a speech by Donald Trump.
Nandy affirmed that a review of the broadcaster’s charter would ensure a “genuinely accountable” BBC, while also defending it as a “national institution”.
Earlier, BBC Director-General Tim Davie urged staff to “fight for our journalism” in light of the former U.S. president’s threat to sue the corporation for $1 billion (£760 million).
A leaked internal BBC memo revealed that the Panorama film misled viewers by splicing together segments of Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, creating the impression that he had explicitly encouraged the Capitol Hill riot. BBC chair Samir Shah has since issued an apology.
Davie resigned on Sunday, along with BBC News CEO Deborah Turness, following mounting pressure related to the memo, which was authored by Michael Prescott, a former independent external advisor to the broadcaster’s editorial standards committee.
The memo also raised concerns about the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza conflict, particularly by BBC Arabic, alleging anti-Trump and anti-Israel bias, as well as imbalanced transgender reporting, among other “troubling matters.”
In a message to staff on Tuesday, Davie stated, “We have made some mistakes that have cost us, but we need to fight,” adding that “this narrative will not just be given by our enemies, it’s our narrative.”
He acknowledged the “difficult times” the BBC has faced, but asserted that “it just does good work, and that speaks louder than any newspaper, any weaponisation.”
Later on Tuesday, during a parliamentary session, Nandy cautioned Members of Parliament against attacking the broadcaster, urging them to “consider just what is at stake.”
Addressing the Commons, she stated: “There is a fundamental difference between raising serious concerns over editorial failings and members of this House launching a sustained attack on the institution itself, because the BBC is not just a broadcaster, it is a national institution that belongs to us all.”
She further noted that the BBC “has faced criticism from all sides for its coverage of highly contentious and contested issues, and [has been] accused of giving too much airtime to particular parties, and for giving them too little.”
The BBC’s charter is set to expire at the end of 2027, and the once-a-decade review process is scheduled to commence shortly, which Nandy stated would help the broadcaster “renew its mission for the modern age.”
Nandy expressed concern regarding the length of time the BBC has taken to respond to criticisms, which she said undermines trust.
She acknowledged “serious concerns and failings” on the part of the BBC Arabic Service, but urged strong support for the World Service, which she described as “a light on the hill for people in places of darkness.”
BBC figures on the corporation’s editorial guidelines and standards committee will face questions at a hearing in the coming weeks.
BBC chair Samir Shah and board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson are expected to attend a session called by the Commons culture, media and sport committee.
Former editorial standards advisers Michael Prescott, the author of the leaked memo, and Caroline Daniel will also be invited to give evidence.
Shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston stated that there are “too many examples of bias” at the BBC and asserted that the corporation requires “institutional change.”
In a social media post on Tuesday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said that while the BBC as an institution “ought to be treasured”, it has “continually let down licence fee payers”.
Trump has threatened legal action if the BBC does not issue a “full and fair retraction” of the Panorama program by Friday. The corporation has indicated that it will respond in due course.
During the staff call on Tuesday, neither Davie nor the BBC chair mentioned Trump’s legal threat.
Downing Street has stated that this is a “matter for the BBC.”
“It is clearly not for the government to comment on any ongoing legal matters,” the prime minister’s official spokesperson said.
“Our position is clear, the BBC is independent and it’s for the corporation to respond to questions about their editorial decisions.”
Asked whether there were concerns the issue would affect Sir Keir Starmer’s contacts with Trump, the spokesperson said the two had a “very strong” relationship.
The spokesperson would not be drawn on whether the BBC should apologise directly to the president.
A Hillsborough survivor described the decision to interview the former Sun editor as an “insult”.
Leader Nigel Farage cites Rhuanedd Richards’ role as BBC director of nations as ‘living proof’ of bias.
The outgoing BBC director general spoke briefly to reporters as he arrived at the BBC headquarters on Tuesday.
The corporation has been plunged into a crisis some would argue is of its own making.
The BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at the resignations of BBC bosses – and how this crisis didn’t come out of nowhere.