Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared his support for a 'strong, independent BBC' but declined to call on US President Donald Trump to abandon his threat of a $1bn lawsuit against the broadcaster. The controversy stems from a Panorama edit of Trump's January 6 speech, which the President claims was misleading and made him appear 'more radical'. Trump has demanded amends by Friday or he will proceed with litigation.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey accused Trump of 'trying to destroy our BBC, not because he cares about the truth, but because he doesn’t want to get away with his lies'. Davey pressed Starmer to tell Trump to drop the demand, but Starmer refused, saying he would not comment on the 'internal workings' of the BBC. He did agree with Davey that the previous Conservative government had undermined the broadcaster.
The BBC has yet to issue a formal response to Trump's threat. Earlier this week, BBC Chair Samir Shah described the US President as a 'litigious fellow' who has launched several lawsuits against media outlets in his second term. Shah said the corporation was prepared for all outcomes. Trump has previously sued outlets including the New York Times, though some cases have been dismissed.
Separately, Reform UK has pulled out of a BBC documentary about the party, citing a loss of trust. The row has sparked wider debate about the BBC's editorial standards and its role in British public life, with commentators warning that the crisis could empower critics who seek to portray the broadcaster as irredeemably corrupt.
