Prime Minister Keir Starmer deliberately avoided raising the escalating legal dispute between Donald Trump and the BBC during a scheduled phone call with the US President on Sunday, choosing instead to focus the conversation on the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
The Call and Its Content
The highly anticipated 30-minute discussion, which had been expected for over a week, saw Sir Keir come under significant pressure to intervene in the row between the White House and the British broadcaster. According to a readout of the call and sources close to the matter, the subject of the BBC was not broached. Instead, the prime minister pressed President Trump on his controversial plans for Ukraine, a topic that dominated the exchange.
The BBC Panorama Fallout Intensifies
This diplomatic sidestepping occurs on the same day that senior BBC figures, including chairman Samir Shah, are set to face a grilling from MPs. The Culture, Media and Sport committee will question them about the corporation's editorial standards following a report that raised serious concerns. The report focused on a Panorama episode which used selective editing of a speech Mr Trump made before the attack on the US Capitol in 2021.
The fallout from the report becoming public has already been severe. BBC director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness both resigned. Mr Shah issued an apology on behalf of the BBC, admitting an "error of judgment" and accepting that the editing of the 2024 documentary gave "the impression of a direct call for violent action".
Political Pressure and Internal BBC Strife
Despite the apology, President Trump has made it clear he intends to proceed with suing the corporation for a staggering $1 billion. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey had publicly urged Sir Keir to intervene to protect the BBC, but the prime minister declined.
The internal turmoil at the BBC extends beyond the resignations and the lawsuit. BBC board member Sir Robbie Gibb, a former senior Conservative Party adviser, is facing calls for his removal. The creative industries union Bectu has stated his position is "untenable", alleging he is perceived by staff as being "sympathetic to, or actively part of, a campaign to undermine the BBC and influence its political impartiality". Sir Ed Davey had also called on the Prime Minister to sack Sir Robbie, branding him a "Conservative crony", but Sir Keir declined to comment on the "individual runnings of the BBC".
The committee of MPs will also hear evidence from former BBC editorial standards adviser Caroline Daniel and non-executive director Caroline Thomson. This hearing follows the recent announcement that another BBC board member, Shumeet Banerji, will be leaving his role.
