29-04-23, 04:16
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#83
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re: Boris QUITS After Giving GONGS to Pals & LIES to Parliament Over Partygate
Richard Sharp QUITS as BBC Chairman After Arranging Boris Johnson Loan
Richard Sharp - who awkwardly used to be Rishi Sunak's boss when he was an investment banker - has faced calls to quit since it emerged he helped Boris Johnson secure an £80,000 loan
BBC News 29 APR 2023
9 November 2020: Richard Sharp applies for BBC chairman job
11 November 2020: Applications close for BBC chairman job
4 December 2020: Sharp tells Cabinet Secretary he has a friend who could help Boris Johnson with his finances
11 December 2020: Sharp interviewed for job
23 December 2020: Johnson gives formal backing to Sharp getting job
17 February 2021: Sharp announced as BBC chairman
BBC chairman Richard Sharp has dramatically QUIT in a bitter cronyism row after a long-awaited report found he'd breached public appointment rules.
Mr Sharp - who awkwardly used to be Rishi Sunaks' boss when he was an investment banker - had faced calls to step down since it emerged he helped Boris Johnson secure an loan.
Up to now the Tory Party donor has refused to do so, but today a report by barrister Adam Heppinstall KC. found he "failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest".
Labour has said Mr Sunak should have sacked Mr Sharp weeks ago.
In a speech this morning the outgoing BBC boss said remaining in place would become a "distraction" for the corporation.
Mr Sharp brokered the loan for Mr Johnson before being recommended by the former PM for the BBC job - but a committee of MPs who approved his appointment weren't told.
He introduced Canadian businessman - and distant cousin of Mr Johnson - Sam Blyth to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to discuss the funding in 2020.
The disruptive saga has raised questions about the BBC's impartiality and sparked widespread calls for him to be removed.
Sunak said he has not spoken to former BBC chairman Richard Sharp following his resignation.
Speaking to reporters in Glasgow he said: "When concerns are raised, it is right there is a proper process, an independent process that we don't prejudge, we allow it to carry on, establish the facts of what happened, reach a conclusion.
"That has happened, Richard Sharp has resigned. But it is right that we do these things properly and professionally, I think most people will think that is the right thing to do."
In his resignation letter to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, Mr Sharp said the rule breach was "inadvertent and not material".
But he added:: "Nevertheless, I have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC. I fee that these matters may well be a distraction from the Corporation’s good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term."
Mr Heppinstall said he disagreed with Mr Sharp's assessment that his conversation with Mr Johnson did not amount to a conflict of interest.
"It may well have been a reasonable conversation in the context of Mr Sharp's role as special adviser, but failing to mention it to the panel does amount to a failure to disclose a potential perceived conflict of interest," the barrister wrote in his report.
"There was a risk that members of the public might form the view that Mr Sharp was informing the Prime Minister of his application because he wanted him to make a recommendation to appoint him.
"They might also perceive that he was putting himself in a position where he might, if appointed, be beholden to the Prime Minister for his support such that his independence from Government was compromised."
The BBC said in a statement: “We accept and understand Richard’s decision to stand down. We want to put on record our thanks to Richard, who has been a valued and respected colleague, and a very effective Chairman of the BBC. The BBC Board believes that Richard Sharp is a person of integrity.
Dithering Rishi Sunak would have had to decide whether to remove his old boss
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