Tim Davie resignation is the BBC’s ‘last chance’ or millions will stop fee | Politics | News
The BBC plunged into a new crisis last night when boss Tim Davie resigned amid the broadcaster’s bias scandal.
The company’s chief executive, Mr Davie, told staff the company must “take ultimate responsibility” after it was accused of cheating in a speech. Donald Trump.
The scathing 19-page report, written by former journalist Michael Prescott, also revealed an anti-Israeli bias in the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza war.
News’ CEO, Deborah Turness, also resigned.
Reform Britain leader Nigel Farage said the BBC was facing its “last chance” or “too many people” would refuse to pay the license fee.
The Reform UK leader said: “The departure of Davie and Turness must be the start of wholesale change.
“The government needs to come in and appoint someone who has a track record of turning companies and their cultures around. Preferably this would be someone from the private sector who runs a forward-thinking business and understands public relations.”
“This is the BBC’s last chance. If they don’t get this right, there will be a lot of people refusing to pay the license fee.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch MP said: “It is right that Tim Davie and Deborah Turness finally take responsibility and resign from the BBC.
“But let’s be honest, this was a catalog of serious failures that went much deeper. The Prescott report exposed institutional biases that cannot be remedied by two resignations; strong action is needed on all the issues it raises.”
“The culture at the BBC has not changed yet. BBC Arabic needs to be brought under control urgently.
“The BBC’s coverage of the US and the Middle East needs a complete overhaul. And on core issues of biology, the corporation can no longer allow its output to be shaped by a cabal of ideological activists.”
“The new leadership must now deliver a real reform of the BBC culture from top to bottom, because it must not expect the public to continue funding it through the compulsory license fee unless it can finally demonstrate its true impartiality.”
Former Home Secretary James Cleverly added: “The problem with the BBC was that it failed to recognize its own bias.
“I have raised this issue with senior BBC management on many occasions, including the naive passing of Hamas propaganda as fact, the selective editing of President Trump, the omission of Bob Villain coverage, the berating of Martine Croxall etc.
“They saw that each “mistake” was an isolated case and could not or did not see a broader pattern.
“I hope this episode triggers the BBC to take a broader look at bias, groupthink and political fashion at the BBC.
“I want the BBC to succeed, it’s a strong British brand, but it needs to take appropriate action to make that happen. Maybe this is it.”
Silver Voices Director Dennis Reed said: “Pensioners will be wishing them well.
“He has canceled free licenses for over-75s and arrogantly refused to make any concessions.
“He continued to send threatening letters to elderly people who could not pay the license fee. He refused to postpone investigations despite the sympathy of many public institutions during the pandemic.
“It has consistently ignored loyal older viewers by concentrating obsessively on young people who don’t want to know. Let’s get the BBC back into a reliable national broadcasting business.”
Former Home Affairs Minister Suella Braverman added: “Remove the license fee now.”
The BBC is expected to apologize on Monday for misleading editing of Donald Trump’s speech in a Panorama documentary.
The episode, which aired in October 2024, showed Trump telling his supporters that he would “march to the Capitol” with them to “fight like hell,” omitting the words he actually used and promising to march with them “peacefully and patriotically to make your voices heard.”
Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, dismissed the clip as “100 per cent fake news” and said: “This clip, deliberately and dishonestly edited by the BBC, is evidence that this is completely, 100 per cent fake news and is no longer worth the time of the great public of the UK on their television screens.”
Both Mr Davie and BBC chief Samir Shah were allegedly warned about doctored footage in May.
The decision to apologize raised questions about why it took viewers six months to admit they were misled.
The report by Mr Prescott accused BBC Arabic of choosing to “minimise Israeli suffering” and “portray Israel as the aggressor” in the war in Gaza.
The company has had to make 215 corrections since the Gaza war began on October 7.
Alan Mendoza, Executive Director of the Henry Jackson Society, said: “The resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness mark a moment of profound crisis for the BBC’s credibility.
“The Panorama scandal was not a minor editorial error; it was a serious breach of trust that misled viewers on an issue of great political importance.
“Public confidence in the BBC rests on its ability to report fairly and accurately, free from political or ideological bias.
“When that trust is broken, accountability must follow.
“This isn’t just about journalism, it’s about freedom of expression and the health of our democracy.
“A free society depends on honest reporting, not selective regulation.
“The BBC now needs to conduct a full and transparent investigation and show how it can restore integrity to its journalism, because without the truth there can be no true freedom of expression and no public service broadcasting worthy of its name.”
Mr Davie told staff: “I just wanted to let you know that I have decided to leave the BBC after 20 years.
“This is entirely my decision, and I am very grateful to the president and the board for their unwavering and unanimous support throughout my entire term, including the last days.
“I am working with the board on precise timings to ensure an orderly transition to successors over the coming months.
“In these heated times, I have reflected on the very intense personal and professional demands of leading this role for many years, combined with the fact that I want to give my successor time to help shape the contract plans they will deliver.
“In these increasingly polarized times, the BBC is uniquely valuable and speaks to the best of us.
“This helps make the UK a special place that is incredibly kind, tolerant and curious.
“Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect and we must always be open, transparent and accountable.
“While not the sole reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.
“Overall the BBC is performing well but some mistakes have been made and as director general I must take ultimate responsibility.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews called for “profound cultural change” at the BBC following the resignations of Mr Davie and Ms Turness.
In a statement, the community body said: “The Jewish community has long had deep concerns about the BBC’s coverage of the Middle East, but this has become deeper over the past two years.
“The BBC has been rocked by scandal after scandal, be it a Gaza documentary featuring the son of a Hamas official, the Glastonbury coverage, BBC Arabic’s open wound or its continued designation of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. Jewish staff and contractors have also complained repeatedly about their treatment at the company.”
“In light of this, the resignations of Tim Davie and Deborah Turness should be seen as the beginning, not the end, of the renewal process.
“A profound cultural shift will be necessary to once again restore trust in one of our nation’s most treasured institutions.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: “The BBC is one of our most important national institutions. Every day it tells the story of who we are, the people, places and communities that make up life in the UK.
“Now more than ever, the need for trustworthy news and high-quality programming is crucial to our democratic and cultural life and our place in the world.
“As a government, we will support the Board as it manages this transition and ensure the Charter Review is the catalyst that helps the BBC adapt to this new era and secure its role at the heart of national life for decades to come.”
