Ask Onix
BBC Chair Under Fire for 'Wishy-Washy' Leadership
The chair of the BBC, Samir Shah, faced sharp criticism from lawmakers on Monday, with the head of a parliamentary committee questioning whether the corporation's board is in "safe hands" under his leadership. Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Commons culture select committee, described Shah's testimony as vague and lacking "grip," raising concerns about the BBC's ability to address ongoing crises over editorial impartiality.
Turbulence at the Top
Shah appeared before the committee amid a period of upheaval at the BBC, which has seen the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness following allegations of bias in the corporation's reporting. The controversy stems from a leaked memo by former editorial standards adviser Michael Prescott, which criticized the BBC's handling of a 2021 Donald Trump speech edited in a way that allegedly misrepresented his words.
The edited Panorama segment spliced together parts of Trump's January 6 speech to suggest a direct call to violence, omitting over 50 minutes of intervening remarks. The BBC later apologized, admitting the edit gave "the mistaken impression [Trump] had made a direct call for violent action," though Shah acknowledged the response was delayed by internal disputes over the apology's wording.
Committee Skepticism
Dinenage told The World Tonight that Shah's answers were evasive, particularly on plans to accelerate decision-making. "We were looking for hard evidence that the BBC board are going to grip this," she said. "Everything was very wishy-washy... there wasn't a huge sense that there was grip at the heart of the BBC governance."
"The BBC can't be left without a [director general] and without a chair-someone needs to be there to lead the march to replace the leadership. But equally, I don't think we as a committee were wildly enthused that the board is in safe hands."
Dame Caroline Dinenage, Chair, Culture Select Committee
Regulatory Warnings
Ofcom chief Dame Melanie Dawes echoed concerns on Tuesday, telling BBC Breakfast that the broadcaster had faced "serious issues recently with editorial decision-making." She emphasized the board's responsibility to "set that right," adding to pressure on Shah, who has pledged to "steady the ship" and remain in his role.
Broader Allegations of Bias
The leaked memo by Prescott-who served as an external adviser-alleged "systemic" failings across multiple areas, including perceived bias in BBC Arabic's coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict and its reporting on transgender issues. Prescott told MPs he believed problems were "getting worse" and that the board was "not taking stuff as seriously as I hoped," though he stopped short of calling the BBC "institutionally biased."
BBC's Response and Next Steps
In an internal email to staff, Shah outlined plans to prioritize recruiting a new director general and announced a review of the BBC's Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee to ensure it represents "a broad range of voices" and operates with clearer accountability. He also proposed creating a deputy director general role, citing the job's "too big for one person" scope.
The BBC has rejected Trump's threat of a defamation lawsuit, refusing to pay demanded compensation. Both Davie and Turness, who resigned within hours of each other, denied systemic bias in the corporation's output during their tenures.
Key Developments
- Trump Speech Edit: The BBC admitted misrepresenting Trump's 2021 remarks by omitting context, sparking White House criticism over a year after broadcast.
- Leadership Vacancies: Shah confirmed the search for a new director general is underway, with governance reforms under review.
- Regulatory Scrutiny: Ofcom's Dawes warned of "serious issues" in BBC editorial processes, urging swift corrective action.
