US President Donald Trump threatened to sue the BBC for $1billion if it fails to retract ‘false’ and ‘defamatory’ statements after his speech was edited in a Panorama documentary
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has defended the under-fire BBC as a “national institution” but said it must “renew its mission for the modern age”.
The corporation is battling to restore trust after a crisis over the editing of a Donald Trump speech triggered the resignations of top bosses Tim Davie and Deborah Turness.
The US President has threatened to sue the BBC for $1billion if it fails to retract “false” and “defamatory” statements – after his speech was edited in a Panorama documentary about the 2021 Capitol Hill riots. BBC chairman Samir Shah has apologised for an “error of judgment” over the editing.
Ms Nandy took aim at MPs lining up to criticise the broadcaster, saying: “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.”
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A once-in-a-decade review of the BBC charter – which expires in 2027 – is expected to begin shortly.
The Culture Secretary said: “Together, we will ensure the BBC is sustainably funded, commands the public’s trust and continues to drive growth, good jobs, skills and creativity across every region and nation of the UK.
“In an era in which trust is fraying and truth is contested across our nation, it will ensure the BBC remains fiercely independent and is genuinely accountable to the public it serves.”
Mr Davie, the outgoing Director-General, told staff to fight for the BBC’s journalism. He said: “We have made some mistakes that have cost us, but we need to fight for that.
“And I’m fiercely proud of that, and don’t let anyone stop you from thinking that we are doing a fantastic job.”
Mr Davie added: “We will thrive and this narrative will not just be given by our enemies: It’s our narrative.”
It comes after the US President’s lawyer Alejandro Brito, said “false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements” about Mr Trump must be retracted immediately.
The letter said Mr Trump could take legal action worth $1billion if the BBC failed to comply with his demands.
Minister Alison McGovern told LBC: “If they’ve made an editorial mistake, then they should apologise.”
In a separate interview with TimesRadio, she said the legal action was a matter for the BBC and the US President.
She went on: “I think the question I have is, has there been bad editing here? Have there been issues? If there has, the answer to that is to get better editing and to invest in quality journalism and sort the problems out.
“I don’t think we need to have a national meltdown about this. I think we need to make sure that the BBC, one of our most trusted media organisations, invests in quality journalism and tells the stories that we all want to hear.”
Downing Street declined to comment on the President’s threat, saying: “This is a matter for the BBC.”
A No10 spokesman added: “It’s clearly not for the Government to comment on any ongoing legal matters.”