BBC review finds no evidence Bashir was rehired for cover-up
A review into the decision to appoint Martin Bashir as religious affairs correspondent at the BBC after 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.
The review, conducted by Ken Macquarrie, found Lord 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.
The report concluded the decision to rehire Bashir was "ultimately taken" by thendirector 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 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.
"Although it is not possible to say whether or not consideration of these matters would have changed the recruitment outcome, I consider that James Harding, as the individual ultimately responsible for the appointment, should have given proper consideration to these matters prior to appointing Martin Bashir," the document said.
"In my view, this was not done."
Harding said: "As I said a few weeks ago, I was in charge of BBC News when we hired Martin Bashir to be religious affairs correspondent.
"The responsibility sits with me. Today's report shows we chose the person we thought was the best candidate for the job.
"He was appointed after a formal interview process and once references were taken and considered.
"As the report concludes, we didn't know then what we know now. Of course, if I had known, he wouldn't have got the job."
The review recognised there were "some shortcomings in the process by which he was re-employed" but said that Bashir had been appointed as his skills and experience were "considered to be the best match to the requirements for the role at that time".
The review said: "I have foundnoevidencethatmartin Bashir was rehired to contain and/or cover up the events surrounding the 1995 Panorama programme. In my view, that theory is entirely unfounded.” Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, responded to the report on Twitter, writing: "It won't end with this, I promise."
Responding to the report, chairman of the DCMS Committee Julian Knight said the fact the BBC considered rehiring Bashir when there were doubts about his integrity "stretches incredulity to breaking point".