MPs told BBC is not a biased institution

THE BBC is not institutionally biased, the author of a leaked memo on impartiality at the corporation insisted yesterday.

- BY HANNAH ROBERTS

Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, was grilled by MPs alongside BBC board chair Samir Shah and board member Robbie Gibb.

Mr Prescott raised concerns in a memo about a Panorama episode that included selective editing of a speech by US president Donald Trump before disorder at the US Capitol in 2021. Mr Trump is now suing the BBC for the coverage.

Mr Prescott told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee: “I wrote that memo because I am a strong supporter of the BBC.