BBC boss denies conflict of interest after helping Johnson secure an £800,000 loan

THE chairman of the BBC has denied a conflict of interest after it emerged that he helped Boris Johnson obtain a personal loan.

Richard Sharp was involved in talks about Mr Johnson’s finances shortly after he applied for the role at the broadcaster, it was reported yesterday.

He agreed to help after a dinner with Mr Johnson and the then prime minister’s distant cousin Sam Blyth, a multimillionaire who had offered to act as a guarantor for a credit facility of up to £800,000.

Late in December 2020 Mr Sharp went to Downing Street to discuss the matter with Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and introduced him to the Canadian businessman, an old friend of his, The Sunday Times reported.

The Cabinet Office is said to have told Mr Johnson to stop seeking Mr Sharp’s advice about his personal finances, given the imminent BBC appointment.

The following month Mr Sharp was announced as the Government’s choice for the £160,000-a-year role at the head of the corporation. Neither Mr Sharp nor Mr Johnson disclosed the matter in their register of interests.

But Mr Sharp insisted yesterday: ‘There is not a conflict when I simply connected, at his request, Mr Blyth with the Cabinet Secretary and had no further involvement whatsoever.’ And a spokesman for Mr Johnson said: ‘This is rubbish. Richard Sharp has never given any financial advice to Boris Johnson, nor has Mr Johnson sought any financial advice from him.’

Asked about the matter yesterday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly insisted to the BBC that Mr Sharp’s appointment was made entirely on merit.

Mr Cleverly said: ‘He is an incredibly accomplished, incredibly successful individual who brings a wealth of experience with him. That is why he was appointed to chairmanship of the BBC.’