BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned on Sunday following a Daily Telegraph investigation that exposed a Panorama documentary’s splicing of President Donald Trump’s 2021 Ellipse rally speech to imply incitement of the January 6 Capitol riot
A 19-page memo revealed that a speech by U.S President, which made him appear to encourage the Capitol Riot, was doctored.
The edit combined Trump’s calls to peacefully make voices heard with later remarks to fight election fraud, without context or disclaimers.
President Trump criticized the BBC on Truth Social, while British politicians divided, with conservatives pushing for funding cuts and liberals defending the broadcaster’s role ahead of its 2027 charter review.
In Trump statement on Truth Social: “The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught “doctoring” my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th. Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt “Journalists.”
“These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election. On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!” He added.
BBC Director-General Davie’s statement in regard of his resignation read: “Like all public organizations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable. While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.”
However, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey in Davie defense described the former Director General as “a decent man doing a difficult job” while he opined that the White House celebrating his fall should be a worry for everyone.
Sir Davey stated further: “It’s easy to see why Trump wants to destroy the world’s number one news source. We can’t let him. The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK. The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.” He affirmed.
BBC News world affairs editor John Simpson claims those celebrating the top officials’ resignations are the media enemies, in his words: “Tim Davie was one of the best D-Gs the BBC has had, and Deborah Turness was a brilliant head of news. Only the BBC’s enemies could possibly be glad they’ve resigned. We’ve now got a real fight on our hands to defend public service broadcasting, because that’s under threat too.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch: “It’s right that Tim Davie and Deborah Turness have finally taken responsibility and resigned from the BBC. But let’s be honest, this has been a catalogue of serious failures that runs far deeper.
“The Prescott report exposed institutional bias that cannot be swept away with two resignations – strong action must be taken on all the issues it raised. The culture at the BBC has not yet changed. BBC Arabic must be brought under urgent control.
“The BBC’s US and Middle East coverage needs a full overhaul. And on basic matters 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 genuine reform of the culture of the BBC, top to bottom – because it should not expect the public to keep funding it through a compulsory licence fee unless it can finally demonstrate true impartiality.”
British journalist and media personality Piers Morgan questioned the accused being the actual culprit: “this smacks of commanding officers taking the rap for something done by lower ranks. Who actually doctored the Trump speech, and how on earth did Panorama let it then be broadcast?”
British MP James Cleverly condemned the media Modus Operandi : “The #BBC’s problem was a failure to recognise its own bias. I raised issue this with senior BBC management on numerous occasions.
“Credulous reporting of Hamas propaganda as fact, selective editing of President Trump, not pulling the Bob Villain feed, the rebuke of Martine Croxall, etc etc
“They saw each “mistake” as being in isolation and couldn’t or wouldn’t see a wider pattern. I hope that this episode will trigger a broader look at bias, groupthink, and political fashion within the BBC by the BBC.
“I want the BBC to succeed, it’s a powerful British brand, but it needs a proper kick up the arse for that to happen. Perhaps this is it.” Cleverly added