Sir Robbie Gibb, a BBC board member and former spin doctor for Theresa May, has dismissed as 'complete nonsense' speculation that recent changes at the corporation amounted to an orchestrated boardroom coup. Appearing before the Commons culture, media and sport committee, Gibb said the suggestion was 'one of the most ridiculous charges' and 'deeply offensive' to fellow board members.
The hearing comes after the resignation of BBC director-general Tim Davie following claims of 'serious and systemic problems' in coverage of issues including Donald Trump, Gaza and trans rights. The allegations were made in a leaked memo by Michael Prescott, a PR executive and former external adviser to the BBC's editorial guidelines and standards committee.
Deborah Turness, the head of BBC News, also resigned after the memo was published. However, another former external adviser told the committee that Prescott's memo was a 'personal account' and did not represent the full picture.
BBC chairman Samir Shah said his job was to 'steady the ship' and that he was 'inclined' to restructure the executive, arguing the role of director-general is 'too big for one person'. He committed to staying in post and emphasised the need for the BBC to be 'the beacon of impartial journalism'.
Asked about plans to appeal to Reform UK voters, Sir Robbie Gibb said the executive was 'massively alert' to hostility from that demographic and that airtime allocation was 'very close to my heart'. Shah added that the BBC must 'reflect the point of view across the country' and expressed concern that support for the broadcaster declines in northern regions.
