‘No evidence’ of Bashir cover-up
A REVIEW into the decision to appoint Martin Bashir as religious affairs correspondent at the BBC following his Panorama interview with Diana, Princess of Wales found “no evidence” the journalist was given the job to “contain and/or cover” up the events surrounding the 1995 programme.
The inquiry was set up by the broadcaster following the publication of Lord Dyson’s report in May, to establish the facts around the decision to allow Bashir to return to the BBC in 2016, and his subsequent move to become religion editor in 2018.
It found Lord Tony Hall, the former director-general of the BBC who led the internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Panorama interview, did not play a part in the decision to rehire Bashir.
“I am satisfied that although Tony Hall knew that the role was being recruited, he was not involved in the selection of Martin Bashir as the religious affairs correspondent,” it said. “Some individuals appear to have been of the view that the director-general had sanctioned the appointment.
“I have seen no evidence to support the idea that there was sign-off of Martin Bashir by Tony Hall prior to the appointment.
However, I consider that he would have at least known of the decision to appoint Martin Bashir.”
The report concluded the decision to rehire Bashir was “ultimately taken” by then-director of news James Harding and that he did not give “sufficient regard” to the other public controversies the journalist had been involved in. These included being suspended from ABC News in 2008 after making allegedly sexist remarks during a dinner speech at the Asian American Journalists Association convention in Chicago and criticising US politician Sarah Palin in 2013 for comments she made comparing the Federal debt to slavery.
According to the report, the religious affairs correspondent role was advertised internally and there were originally seven internal applications. An eighth internal candidate was identified and invited to apply and on July 28 2016 three applicants were shortlisted. The interview panel was unanimous in selecting Bashir.
The BBC’S former director of nations and regions Ken Macquarrie, who conducted the inquiry, concluded: “In my view, the recruitment process for the religious affairs correspondent was targeted at finding the right person for the role. Although there were some shortcomings in the process by which he was re-employed, I am satisfied that he was ultimately appointed because his knowledge and experience were considered to be the best match to the requirements for the role at that time.”
BBC director-general Tim Davie said: “While the report finds processes were largely followed at the time, it is clear we need to reflect on the findings to ensure consistent best practice is applied in our recruitment.
“It is without doubt that had the organisation been aware of what is now publicly known because of the Dyson report, Martin Bashir would have never been reappointed.”