Downing Street threw its weight behind the BBC and rejected allegations that the broadcasting service is ‘institutionally biased’ after a major row over Donald Trump’s speech
Donald Trump’s claim that the BBC has “corrupt journalist” has been rejected by Keir Starmer.
Downing Street threw its weight behind the BBC, describing it as an “internationally renowned” institution. It rejected allegations that the broadcasting service is “institutionally biased” and said it is important the BBC acts to maintain trust.
Last night BBC director general Tim Davie and chief executive of News Deborah Turness resigned from the BBC. It came after the Telegraph published details suggesting the BBC doctored footage of Mr Trump’s speech so he appeared to encourage the Capitol Hill riots of January 2021. It led to bias allegations against the BBC.
Mr Trump celebrated the resignations and said the report had exposed “corrupt journalists”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “On the question of is the BBC corrupt?: No. The BBC has a vital role in an age of disinformation… where there’s a clear argument for a robust, impartial British news service to deliver, and that case is stronger than ever.
“I think I’ve already addressed some of the comments that have been made over the last 24 hours, but we are of the view that it’s important that the BBC acts swiftly to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur.”
The spokesman was also asked if Mr Starmer believed the BBC was institutionally biased, and replied: “No, but it is important that the BBC acts to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur, because as I say, for any public service broadcaster, accountability is vital to maintain trust.”
The spokesman would not say whether the future of the BBC licence fee was on the table as part of a wider review of the broadcaster’s charter.
Over the last week, the BBC faced strong criticism that a Panorama documentary had misled viewers by editing a speech by Trump ahead of the January 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol building.
On that day in Washington DC, Trump encouraged his supporters to protest the certification of the 2020 Presidential Election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. There is no credible evidence the election was stolen.
He said: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.” But the Panorama edit showed him saying: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
The two parts of the speech were edited together despite being more than 50 minutes apart. The edit sparked condemnation from the White House, which branded the BBC as “100% fake news” as well as a “propaganda machine.”
Mr Trump last night welcomed Mr Davie’s resignation. In a post shared to TruthSocial, he said: “The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught “doctoring” my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th. Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt “Journalists.”
In a letter to MPs, chair of the BBC Samir Shah this morning said the Panorama episode had been considered by BBCs Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee in January and May of this year after concern was expressed by members.
This issue was considered and discussed as part of a wider review of the BBC’s US Election coverage, commissioned by the Committee, rather than handled as a specific programme complaint, given it had not attracted significant audience feedback and had been transmitted before the US election, so the point wasn’t pursued further at that time.
“The points raised in the review were relayed to the Panorama team, including the decision making on this edit. With hindsight, it would have been better to take more formal action…. The conclusion of that deliberation is that we accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action. The BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgement.”
Ms Turness this morning stressed that the BBC is “not institutionally biased” and the journalists are not “corrupt”. “I stepped down over the weekend because the buck stops with me,” she said. “But I’d like to make one thing very clear, BBC News is not institutionally biased. That’s why it’s the world’s most trusted news provider.”