• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
  • Guest Content
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Elevenses
  • Business
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Property
  • JOBS
  • All
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Sport
    • Tech/Auto
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News Media

‘Deeply worrying’ concerns over BBC impartiality raised after Tory ally blocks appointment of senior reporter

"This is, in my opinion, very bad", Nish Kumar said following revelations that Sir Robbie Gibb had tried to block the appointment of Jess Brammar.

Jack Peat by Jack Peat
2021-07-10 10:41
in Media, News
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Concerns over the BBC’s impartiality have been raised after a close ally of the Tory party tried to block an editorial appointment on political grounds, according to reports.

Sir Robbie Gibb, who was Theresa May’s communications director in No10 and has ties to the Tories which go back decades, tried to prevent the BBC hiring Jess Brammar to oversee its news channels’ output.

The former journalist told BBC news and current affairs director Fran Unsworth in a text message that she “cannot make this appointment”, according to the FT.

“Fragile trust in the BBC”

Gibb, whose brother Nick is a Tory minister, reportedly said the government’s “fragile trust in the BBC will be shattered” if Brammar were to be hired.

She was the preferred candidate to oversee content on the corporation’s domestic and global news channels in a newly-created role.

While Gibb has been vocal about the need for impartiality from those working at the BBC, he tweeted about his support for Brexit while still in the corporation’s employ.

He worked as chief of staff to Tory life peer Francis Maude between 1997 and 2000, when Maude was shadow chancellor, and also supported Michael Portillo in his 2001 bid to become the leader of the Tory party.

BBC’s links with the Conservative Party

The BBC’s media editor Amol Rajan said Gibb’s “appointment clearly strengthens the BBC’s links not just with Westminster, but with the Conservative Party specifically”.

Another former BBC manager told the FT that Gibb’s text message was “amazingly ill judged”, saying the corporation now had no choice but to hire Brammar or seem to have bowed to political pressure.

RelatedPosts

Joe Wicks makes specialised workout video for people with Parkinson’s

UK economy set for highest inflation and close to slowest growth of G7 countries

Coronation: Police will apologise over arrests if officers made mistakes

Windrush Report reveals progress on race in Britain, but urgent action needed to address ongoing challenges

A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC doesn’t comment on ongoing recruitment processes, which are the responsibility of the executive, but for the record, no recruitment process has been blocked.

“People should wait for the outcome which will be announced in due course. And as a general principle, Board members are able to discuss issues with other Board members or senior executives. These principles were adhered to.”

Reacton

Reaction to the news has been fierce, with Matthew d’Ancona calling it “deeply worrying”.

Deeply worrying: ⁦@jessbrammar⁩ (who would be excellent in the role) was not acting in a remotely partisan way in defending her reporter. And what is Robbie Gibb doing getting involved in the first place? https://t.co/mtHmpBan69

— Matthew d'Ancona (@MatthewdAncona) July 10, 2021

Others have also highlighted their concern in tweets rounded up below:

This is, in my opinion, very bad https://t.co/FiFXTwArVP

— Nish Kumar (@MrNishKumar) July 10, 2021

What about ‘shattering the fragile trust’ too many now have in the BBC’s willingness to report impartially on this government? Btw, @AndrewMarr9, do you need contact details for @PeterStefanovi2? https://t.co/O2MwblQwvI

— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) July 10, 2021

A BBC board member with close ties to No 10 reportedly warned the broadcaster not to appoint Jess Brammar to a senior role. A source told FT that this is partly because Jess came to my defence when Kemi Badenoch attacked me for asking a simple question.https://t.co/RInf7SSC1H

— Nadine White (@Nadine_Writes) July 10, 2021

The BBC must do two things in response to the Robbie Gibb scandal.

(1) Proceed with the appointment of preferred candidate @jessbrammar

(2) Sack Robbie Gibb as a non-executive director.

Otherwise any remaining trust in its impartiality will evaporatehttps://t.co/QBRMAbP3yV

— Ian Fraser (@Ian_Fraser) July 10, 2021

Related: Southgate calls on squad to drive ‘tolerance and inclusion’ ahead of Euros final

Content Protection by DMCA.com

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending

Elevenses: The Thing About Wrexham’s Cinderella Story

Elevenses: Exposing the Tories’ Deepfake Illegal Immigration Bill

Elevenses: Rishi’s Finest Hour

More from TLE

Let’s Talk About the New Science Behind Meditation

Travel warnings as Met office issues Amber snow alert

These are the firms which have rejected the government’s job retention bonus

Man claims he acted as spy for French secret service to disrupt Jersey’s financial sector

US Election 2020: What is the electoral college, and how does it work?

London’s First Naked Restaurant Opens This Month

Landlords warned of ‘holiday-sublets’ over festive period

The home security technology everyone forgets

Millions of workers would “dread” discussing their mental wellbeing with their boss

London Escapes in Under an Hour: The Curious Pig in the Parlour, Copthorne

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

Contact

Editorial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Commercial enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Address

The London Economic Newspaper Limited t/a TLE
Company number 09221879
International House,
24 Holborn Viaduct,
London EC1A 2BN,
United Kingdom

SUPPORT

We do not charge or put articles behind a paywall. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism.

DONATE & SUPPORT

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.