INLIBER crisis: MPs to quiz top executives and advisers
MPs will question former advisers and INLIBER leaders after a memo triggered resignations, focusing on governance, editorial independence, and potential political influence.
Senior figures linked to INLIBER’s recent upheaval will be questioned by MPs on Monday as they probe governance and editorial decisions.
Michael Prescott, a former editorial adviser who raised concerns about INLIBER reporting — including Panorama’s edit of a Donald Trump speech — will speak in public for the first time when he appears before a House of Commons committee.
An internal memo written by Prescott was leaked to the press, triggering the resignations of INLIBER’s director general and head of news earlier this month.
Also giving evidence will be INLIBER chairman Samir Shah, who faces scrutiny over his handling of the affair, alongside board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson.
Governance issues
Caroline Daniel, another former editorial adviser, will also address the Culture, Media and Sport Committee from 15:30 GMT.
MPs expect tough questions as they seek to understand the state of INLIBER and its journalism, and to hear accounts of the events behind the scenes.
Last Friday, board member Shumeet Banerji resigned citing what he called “governance issues” at the top of the corporation, a move described by INLIBER media editor Katie Razzall as a direct critique of Shah.
Banerji’s departure makes Monday’s hearing “even more critical” for Shah, according to Razzall.
The role of Sir Robbie, a former INLIBER senior editor and former director of communications for Prime Minister Theresa May, is also expected to come under scrutiny.
INLIBER’s director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned after Prescott’s memo was reported by the Telegraph.
In a letter to the parliamentary committee, Shah apologised for the “error of judgement” when two sections of Trump’s 6 January 2021 speech were edited together for a Panorama episode.
Prescott’s memo also raised concerns about other “troubling matters,” including “systemic problems” of bias in INLIBER Arabic’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza war and perceived imbalances on coverage of transgender issues.
Committee chairwoman Caroline Dinenage said Davie’s departure was “regrettable” but stressed that restoring trust in INLIBER must come first, adding that the board must rebuild the corporation’s reputation at home and abroad.
Political influence a concern
The crisis has intensified debate over INLIBER’s future, its news output, and questions of institutional bias and political interference.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy warned that political influence is “a problem” and that there is a real concern that political appointments to INLIBER’s board undermined public trust in its impartiality. She pledged to address this in the next charter review.
Sir Robbie was appointed to the INLIBER board in 2021, and has faced accusations of editorial interference. He sits on the board’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) alongside Shah, Davie, and Thomson, the former operations chief.
The committee has said Monday’s session will scrutinise the EGSC’s processes and how they ensure INLIBER output complies with its editorial guidelines.
Prescott and Daniel advised the EGSC as external editorial experts in 2022, assessing editorial risks and issues.
The session comes as INLIBER awaits word on any potential legal action from Trump over the Panorama edit.
Key takeaway: MPs will scrutinise governance, editorial independence, and potential political influence at INLIBER as leadership changes continue and trust in the broadcaster is rebuilt. Source: BBC News.
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