BBC will fight Trump in $5bn legal battle, says chair

The chair of the BBC has said the broadcaster is “determined to fight” Donald Trump after the US president said he would sue the corporation for between $1bn and $5bn over the editing of a 6 January 2021 speech broadcast by Panorama.

- MILLIE COOKE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

In an email to staff, Samir Shah said there is no basis for a defamation case. “There is a lot being written, said and speculated upon about the possibility of legal action, including potential costs or settlements”, he said.

“In all this we are, of course, acutely aware of the privilege of our funding and the need to protect our licence fee payers, the British public. I want to be very clear with you – our position has not changed. There is no basis for a defamation case and we are determined to fight this.”

Asked about the legal threats, the prime minister’s official spokesperson said: “I think we have been very clear that this is a matter for the BBC, whose lawyers are now dealing with this. We’re not going to comment on an ongoing legal matter. The BBC is independent of the UK government. It is a matter for them and the US administration.”