Claims of 'serious and systemic' bias at BBC disputed by ex-adviser

Claims of “serious and systemic problems” in the BBC’s coverage of issues including Donald Trump, Gaza and trans rights have been disputed by a former adviser to the corporation.

- Michael Savage Media editor

From top: Michael Prescott, Robbie Gibb, Samir Shah and Caroline Daniel were questioned by MPs in relation to claims of BBC bias

Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general and Deborah Turness, the head of BBC News, both resigned following the leaking of a memo by Michael Prescott, a PR executive and former independent external adviser to the BBC's editorial guidelines and standards committee (EGSC).

Prescott’s memo, sent to the BBC’s board and eventually leaked to the Daily Telegraph, contained claims of bias in relation to issues including Trump and racial diversity.

He went on to claim that the corporation’s leaders had ignored his concerns or not properly followed through on mistakes.

Speaking to the Commons culture, media and sport committee, however, an adviser who served alongside Prescott as an external EGSC adviser said Prescott’s view did not provide the full picture and was his “personal account”.

Caroline Daniel, a PR executive and former journalist said she believed the BBC “took issues of impartiality extremely seriously” throughout the period cited by Prescott.

“It was a healthy debate and also a very robust debate,” she said. “Was the BBC willing to have a proper conversation, debate and actually take action? In my view, yes.”

Prescott also appeared before MPs and said that while he did not think the BBC was “institutionally biased”, he did believe it repeatedly failed to properly follow up issues raised at the EGSC.