BBC CLEARS ITSELF OF BASH COVER-UP
Politicians blast probe into rehiring
MPS want “answers” from the BBC after it exonerated itself over the rehiring of shamed journalist Martin Bashir.
An internal review found “no evidence” he was made religious affairs correspondent to “contain and/or cover up” events surrounding his infamous 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana.
It concluded no-one involved in his recruitment in 2016 knew of all the matters
contained in the Lord Dyson report, released this May, which said he “deceived and induced” Diana’s brother Earl Spencer to secure the chat.
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, will grill former and current BBC bosses today. Chairman Julian Knight said: “That the BBC considered rehiring Martin Bashir when there were high level doubts over his integrity stretches incredulity to breaking point.
“By this point senior members of the BBC knew that Bashir had lied about the use of faked bank statements to gain access to Princess Diana.”
The inquiry was set up to get the facts around Mr Bashir’s return to the BBC and promotion to religion editor in 2018.
It also found Tony Hall, the ex-director-general who led an internal probe into the circumstances of the Panorama interview, did not play a part in the decision to rehire Mr Bashir.
Current director-general Tim Davie added: “Had the organisation been aware of what is now publicly known because of the Dyson report Martin Bashir would have never been reappointed.” tom.hutchison@dailystar.co.uk