THE chair of the BBC has said he will not resign from his role at the corporation following a row over reports about a major loan to former prime minister Boris Johnson.
Richard Sharp said he does not believe there was any conflict of interest over his appointment following allegations that he helped then PM Johnson to secure a loan of up to £800,000.
Sharp said he believed his selection process was conducted “by the book” and denied he had misled the advisory panel or MPs on the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee when he appeared before them.
The former banker has been facing calls to stand down after it emerged that in late 2020 he had introduced his friend Sam Blyth to the Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to discuss whether Blyth could act as a guarantor for a loan facility for Johnson.
READ MORE: What will it take for the BBC to acknowledge its issues and change?
On Monday, public appointments commissioner William Shawcross announced he is to investigate Sharp’s appointment as BBC chairman in February 2021 to ensure the process was conducted “fairly, openly and on merit”.
In an interview with BBC News, Sharp said he was “comfortable” with the way the process had been carried out.
“Having had a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary about avoiding conflict, and the perception of conflict, I felt comfortable and I still feel there was no conflict because at that stage what I was seeking to do was ensure that the process was followed exactly by the book, and that the process hadn’t started, of any kind, in terms of any support that Sam [Blyth] was going to provide to the prime minister,” he said.
“I had clarified and agreed with the Cabinet Secretary, both of us had the judgment that I’d avoided a conflict or a perception of conflict.”
READ MORE: Tory minister responds to National's poll on BBC Brexit coverage
His interview follows a statement on Monday in which he insisted he was “not involved in making a loan or arranging a guarantee” for Johnson, although he acknowledged the row was a “distraction” for the broadcaster.
The former prime minister, who was responsible for Sharp’s appointment, has dismissed the furore as a “load of complete nonsense”, saying Sharp had no knowledge of his personal finances.
Sharp was in the process of applying for the BBC chairmanship when he introduced Blyth to Case and was subsequently appointed to the role at the corporation.
Rishi Sunak, who is under pressure over Tory Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs, has sought to distance himself from the controversy, saying Sharp’s appointment was made by “one of my predecessors”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel