Lisa Nandy has dismissed Donald Trump’s assertion that the BBC is “100% fake news” in the midst of a dispute over an edited Panorama documentary.
The BBC is set to address the issue on Monday, with the Culture Secretary affirming her trust in the corporation’s leadership.
The controversy revolves around clips stitched together from segments of the US president’s speech on January 6, 2021, the day of the Capitol attack by Trump supporters. The BBC re-aired the speech last October as part of a Panorama program.
Trump’s press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the BBC, labeling them as “total, 100% fake news” for the edited clip. In response, Culture Secretary Nandy called the accusations “incredibly serious” but disagreed with the “100% fake news” claim, emphasizing the importance of the BBC’s existence.
Nandy praised the BBC as a beacon of journalistic excellence worldwide, particularly highlighting the world service for providing vital news and perspectives where free democratic dialogue is lacking.
She mentioned being firm with the BBC regarding editorial lapses and discussed addressing various concerns raised, not limited to the Panorama program but extending to allegations of systemic bias in reporting challenging issues.
Nandy revealed her discussions with the BBC chairman and expressed confidence in the seriousness with which the issues are being handled, with a report expected on Monday.
A separate dispute emerged between Boris Johnson and BBC presenter Nick Robinson, with the former PM accusing the broadcaster of “arrogance” amidst claims of a campaign to undermine the corporation. Robinson acknowledged concerns about editorial standards and errors at the BBC, pointing out a simultaneous effort to discredit the organization.
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