Michael Prescott, the former external editorial adviser to the BBC Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee – whose memo on editorial standards led to the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness – is to appear before the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday 24 November.
MPs plan to question members of the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) and former editorial advisers over the corporation’s handling of impartiality concerns.
Prescott’s internal memo to the BBC board, alleging systemic editorial bias – including in coverage of Donald Trump, transgender issues and the Gaza war – was leaked to the Daily Telegraph and triggered a wider political and media backlash.
Also appearing before the committee will be former external editorial adviser Caroline Daniel; BBC chair and EGSC chair Dr Samir Shah; BBC non-executive director and EGSC member Sir Robbie Gibb; and BBC non-executive director and EGSC member Caroline Thomson. The session forms part of the committee’s ongoing inquiry into the work of the BBC.
Following the leak of the Prescott memo, multiple reports suggested Sir Robbie “led the charge” inside the board in pursuing its concerns, prompting calls from politicians, media figures and unions for him to be removed from the board over his perceived political role.
The committee says the hearing will focus on the EGSC’s processes and how it ensures output complies with the BBC’s editorial guidelines. It has previously written to the BBC about the action being taken in response to Prescott’s report; the reply from BBC chair Samir Shah was published last week.
