BBC’s impartiality adviser ‘showed bias’ online
THE BBC has sparked a fresh ‘bias’ row after it emerged the former executive hired to review its impartiality on social media has himself been partisan online.
Richard Sambrook, former director of global news at the BBC, has been brought in to take an ‘internal look’ at the way journalists use their social media accounts amid concerns they might be breaching its impartiality rules by sharing their political views.
But it emerged Mr Sambrook, who was appointed in May, has himself been critical of the government in posts online. Last night MPs questioned the appointment, warning his online activity could jeopardise his position as an ‘independent arbiter’.
On Twitter last month, Mr Sambrook asked if the government was trying to ‘extend lockdown to independent journalism and critical views?’ after it emerged Culture Secretary Oliver dowden wrote to BBC director general Tony Hall with concerns about its reporting. In January, he said MPs voting against a clause to compel ministers to negotiate full membership of the EU’s erasmus education programme was ‘shortsighted’ and ‘stupid’. He also suggested Boris Johnson’s government is one voters should ‘look closely at what they do, not what they say...’. And last month he retweeted a link to a guardian article entitled ‘The Murdoch media’s China coronavirus conspiracy has one aim: get Trump re-elected’.
Yesterday Tory MP giles Watling, who sits on the digital, culture, media and sport committee said: ‘It would appear that [Mr Sambrook] is displaying a bias which I would imagine jeopardises his position as an independent arbiter. There should be somebody there who can demonstrably be unbiased and independent.’
And MP Andrew Bridgen added: ‘Are the BBC completely sure this man is best qualified to carry out a review of their own impartiality on social media?’
The BBC said it has hired Mr Sambrook to give ‘professional advice’ and ‘any personal opinions he may or may not hold are completely irrelevant’.