BBC chairman admits broadcaster is 'fighting against its liberal bias'

2022-12-04

BBC chairman admits the broadcaster is ‘fighting against its liberal bias’ and is too London-centric as he warns, ‘We have to raise our game’

BBC chairman Richard Sharp has said the broadcaster ‘does have a liberal bias’
The former Goldman Sachs banker said Brexit came as a ‘big surprise to the BBC’
He added that Emily Maitlis’s speech about the Barnard Castle trip was ‘wrong’

The BBC chairman has said the broadcaster ‘does have a liberal bias’ and admitted it is ‘fighting against it’.

Former Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan banker Richard Sharp said the BBC has been too London-centric and warned the broadcaster has to ‘raise our game’.

He told the Sunday Times Brexit had come as ‘big surprise to the BBC’, adding: ‘The BBC didn’t understand the ‘mind’ of the country.’

Mr Sharp, who donates his £160,000 salary to charity, suggested ongoing efforts to transfer departments to the north of England, Scotland and Wales would help ensure the same mistakes are not made again.

Former Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan banker Richard Sharp said the BBC has been too London-centric and warned the broadcaster has to ‘raise our game’

Mr Sharp referenced former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis’s monologue about Dominic Cummings’ trip to Barnard Castle during lockdown, which the BBC ruled had breached impartiality rules.

He said Maitlis was ‘wrong’ and stressed the BBC is not a ‘campaigning institution’ adding: ‘Our approach is to present the facts and not to lead with a broadcaster’s opinion.’

Mr Sharp also highlighted areas where he believes the BBC needs to improve.

Referring to its business coverage, he said: ‘I’ve got Bloomberg TV on in here for a reason. It’s excellent. We have to raise our game.’

He praised the BBC’s correspondents and editors as ‘first-rate’ but said that the topics of business and finance ‘are not as well understood as they should be’ across the corporation.

Mr Sharp referenced former Newsnight presenter Emily Maitlis’s monologue about Dominic Cummings’ trip to Barnard Castle during lockdown, which the BBC ruled had breached impartiality rules

‘We need to do a better job of explaining them, especially when inflation is forcing the Government and the Opposition to make very difficult choices,’ he added.

Mr Sharp took over from Sir David Clementi in February 2021 as the BBC faced increasing scrutiny over issues including equal pay, diversity, free TV licences for the over-75s and competition from streaming services such as Netflix.

He and director-general Tim Davie introduced a 10-point plan encompassing impartiality, anti-bias training and reviews of news output.

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