By Tony O’Reilly-
Richard Sharp has resigned as chairman of the BBC in the wake of a report into his appointment following a cronyism row.
Mr Sharp said the report found he had breached the government’s code for the public appointments but said it was “inadvertent”.
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The matter has been a “distraction” for the BBC, and he has therefore this morning resigned as the BBC chair.
He said he will stay on until a replacement is found.
Read the reaction and full report here – Politics Hub
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“To chair this incredible organisation has been an honour,” he added.
He had been caught up in a row over his appointment into the role at the BBC since January, when he was reported to have helped facilitate an £800,000 loan guarantee for Boris Johnson – just weeks before the former prime minister appointed Mr Sharp.
An investigation into Mr Sharp’s appointment by the commissioner for public appointments was announced the same month, only for the commissioner, William Shawcross, to recuse himself from the process due to “contact” between himself and the BBC chairman.
Barrister Adam Heppinstall KC took over the probe.
This investigation was published this morning by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
It outlined how Mr Sharp told Mr Johnson he wanted to apply for the BBC chairman role in November 2020.
He also told the PM, before any interviews took place, that he was going to meet with Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to attempt an introduction for Mr Johnson with someone who had made a “suggestion” that “he might assist the former prime minister with his personal finances”.
The meeting with Mr Case took place in December 2020, but the investigation did not consider or make findings about Mr Johnson’s finances.
All of these issues were not divulged to the government when applicants for the BBC chair role were asked to disclose potential conflicts of interests.
This “gave rise to a potential perceived conflict of interest” on two issues, the report found:
1) Mr Sharp’s conversation with Mr Johnson before the application that he wanted to apply;
2) Mr Sharp telling Mr Johnson that he was going to help with his personal finances.
It was concluded that these not being disclosed to the panel selecting him meant Mr Sharp breached the code.
The inquiry found it could be perceived that Mr Sharp was given the job because he helped the prime minister with a financial matter, and he may not be independent of Number 10.
Mr Sharp said he “wished” he had told the panel about the potential perceived conflicts of interest – although according to the report, he disagreed with the finding that point 1) led to a conflict of interest.
In a statement, Mr Sharp said: ”Mr Heppinstall’s view is that, while I did breach the governance code for public appointments, he states that a breach does not necessarily invalidate an appointment.
Indeed, I have always maintained the breach was inadvertent and not material, which the facts he lays out substantiate. The secretary of state has consulted with the BBC board who support that view.
Nevertheless, I have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC. I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the corporation’s good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term. I have, therefore, this morning resigned as BBC chair to the secretary of state, and to the board”.
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