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Richard Sharp: BBC chairman resigns over report into appointment Richard Sharp: BBC chairman resigns over report into appointment
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Watch: I'm resigning, this is a distraction for the BBC - BBC chairman
Watch: I'm resigning, this is a distraction for the BBC - BBC chairman
BBC chairman Richard Sharp has resigned after a report found he did not disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest during his appointment.BBC chairman Richard Sharp has resigned after a report found he did not disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest during his appointment.
The report looked at whether he was transparent about his involvement in the facilitation of a loan to Boris Johnson. It looked at whether he was transparent about his role in the facilitation of a loan to Boris Johnson.
Mr Sharp apologised, saying he did not want to be a distraction for the BBC.Mr Sharp apologised, saying he did not want to be a distraction for the BBC.
The report, by barrister Adam Heppinstall, was published on Friday. The chairman, who was appointed by the prime minister, has been under pressure to quit since claims about his involvement emerged in January.
It found that he had failed to disclose two potential perceived conflicts of interest: first, by telling Mr Johnson he wanted to apply for the BBC role before doing so; and second, by telling the PM he intended to set up a meeting between Mr Blyth and Mr Case. They prompted an investigation led by barrister Adam Heppinstall which was published on Friday.
The report notes that Mr Sharp does not accept the first conclusion, but he has apologised for the second. The report found that he had failed to disclose two potential perceived conflicts of interest: first, by telling Mr Johnson he wanted to apply for the BBC role before doing so; and second, by telling the PM he intended to set up a meeting between Mr Blyth and Mr Case.
It notes that Mr Sharp does not accept the first conclusion, but he has apologised for the second.
Mr Sharp called the breach of public appointment rules "inadvertent and not material".Mr Sharp called the breach of public appointment rules "inadvertent and not material".
He has previously accepted that he arranged a meeting between the country's most senior civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, and Sam Blyth, a distant cousin of Mr Johnson who had offered to provide financial assistance to the then PM in late 2020.He has previously accepted that he arranged a meeting between the country's most senior civil servant, Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, and Sam Blyth, a distant cousin of Mr Johnson who had offered to provide financial assistance to the then PM in late 2020.
At the time of that meeting, Mr Sharp, an ex-investment banker and Conservative Party donor, had already applied for the senior BBC job.At the time of that meeting, Mr Sharp, an ex-investment banker and Conservative Party donor, had already applied for the senior BBC job.
The investigation was set up by the Commissioner of Public Appointments to investigate claims which first appeared in the Sunday Times.The investigation was set up by the Commissioner of Public Appointments to investigate claims which first appeared in the Sunday Times.
The report found "there is a risk of a perception that Mr Sharp was recommended for appointment" because he sought to assist the PM in a private financial matter "and/or that he influenced the former Prime Minister to recommend him by informing him of his application before he submitted it".The report found "there is a risk of a perception that Mr Sharp was recommended for appointment" because he sought to assist the PM in a private financial matter "and/or that he influenced the former Prime Minister to recommend him by informing him of his application before he submitted it".
The report did not make a judgement "on whether Mr Sharp had any intention of seeking to influence the former Prime Minister in this manner".
Confirming his resignation, Mr Sharp said the report found "that while I did breach the governance code for public appointments, he (Heppinstall) states that a breach does not necessarily invalidate an appointment".
Mr Sharp said the report finds he did not play "any part whatsoever in the facilitation, arrangement, or financing of a loan for the former Prime Minister".
LIVE: BBC chairman Richard Sharp resigns - live updates and reactionLIVE: BBC chairman Richard Sharp resigns - live updates and reaction
But he said with hindsight he should have disclosed his role in setting up a meeting between Cabinet Secretary Simon Case and Sam Blyth - a businessman who was offering the then PM financial help - to the appointments panel during the scrutiny process ahead of him taking up the senior role. The report did not make a judgement "on whether Mr Sharp had any intention of seeking to influence the former Prime Minister in this manner".
It also said the breach did not necessarily invalidate the appointment, but Mr Sharp said he was quitting in order to "prioritise the interests of the BBC".
Mr Sharp said he did not play "any part whatsoever in the facilitation, arrangement, or financing of a loan for the former prime minister".
But he said with hindsight he should have disclosed his role in setting up a meeting between Mr Case and Mr Blyth to the appointments panel during the scrutiny process ahead of him taking up the senior role.
He said not doing so was an "oversight" and apologised for it.He said not doing so was an "oversight" and apologised for it.
In a statement, Mr Sharp said he did not want to be a "distraction", adding that it had been an honour to chair the BBC. The BBC chair can only be appointed or sacked by the government. The BBC director general, the executive who has ultimate editorial control over the corporation, does not have the power to remove them.
He will remain in post until June until a successor is appointed.He will remain in post until June until a successor is appointed.
Mr Sharp's position came under further scrutiny in March following Gary Lineker's suspension over a tweet criticising government asylum policy, a decision which triggered a wider row about BBC impartiality.Mr Sharp's position came under further scrutiny in March following Gary Lineker's suspension over a tweet criticising government asylum policy, a decision which triggered a wider row about BBC impartiality.
Critics of the BBC's handling of the issue contrasted Lineker's suspension with how allegations against Mr Sharp were dealt with, pointing out the chairman was able to remain in post despite ongoing investigations.Critics of the BBC's handling of the issue contrasted Lineker's suspension with how allegations against Mr Sharp were dealt with, pointing out the chairman was able to remain in post despite ongoing investigations.
In a statement, Tim Davie, the Director-General of the BBC, said: "On behalf of the BBC Executive, I would like to thank Richard for his service to the BBC and the drive and intellect he brought to his time as Chairman. Working with him over the last two years has been rewarding and Richard has made a significant contribution to the transformation and success of the BBC. Responding to the resignation, the BBC's former controller of editorial policy, Richard Ayre, said the matter came down to "the integrity and transparency" of Mr Sharp's application and that he "had to go".
"The focus for all of us at the BBC is continuing the hard work to ensure we deliver for audiences, both now and in the future." He continued: "Meaningfully or not he had done a favour [for Mr Johnson]. He didn't declare that to the assessment panel."
Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC, said Mr Sharp had made a "significant contribution to the transformation and success of the BBC".
A No 10 spokesperson called it a "matter for him and the BBC", adding: "The prime minister believes in independent processes being allowed to take place to establish the facts before decisions or conclusions are made."
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