A senior BBC board member with Conservative Party links has been accused of spearheading internal pressure over claims of systemic bias in coverage of Donald Trump, Gaza and transgender rights, sources have told the Guardian.
Robbie Gibb, who served as Theresa May's communications chief and was appointed to the board under Boris Johnson, is said to have amplified criticisms during key board meetings that preceded the resignations of director general Tim Davie and BBC News head Deborah Turness.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has called for Gibb's removal from the board before the search for a new director general begins, arguing his party political appointment undermines the BBC's independence.
The row comes as Donald Trump threatens the BBC with a billion-dollar legal action over a Panorama episode edited to splice his speech. BBC chair Samir Shah has apologised for the edit, calling it an 'error of judgment'.
Insiders expressed concern over the relationship between Gibb and Michael Prescott, a former external adviser whose memo critical of the BBC's coverage sparked the crisis. Prescott has said his criticisms carry 'no political agenda'.
