BBC must urgently come clean about its actions over presenter — or risk irreparable damage to public trust
BBC under fire
THREE days have passed since The Sun first reported harrowing allegations that a top BBC presenter had sent tens of thousands of pounds to a vulnerable teenager, who was supplying him with sex pictures.
The youngster — just 17 when contact was first made between the pair — used the cash to pay for deadly crack cocaine, putting their own health in peril and ripping apart their distressed family.
By its own admission, the BBC has “very serious” questions to answer and its reputation is suffering “serious damage”.
Politicians from all sides, meanwhile, say it is “deeply concerning” that the presenter accused of serious misconduct was not immediately taken off air, and are calling for a full investigation.
Yesterday, the presenter was suspended.
At the heart of the scandal is this: The young person’s worried parents first raised the alarm to the BBC on May 19.
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Why on earth did its armies of managers not immediately question the presenter, or launch a full inquiry?
Why was it only when The Sun contacted the BBC that any meaningful action was taken, well over a month after the first complaint?
The parents allege that, in the intervening period, the payments to their crack-addicted child continued.
It was only because nothing was happening, and the household name continued appearing on their TV screens, that they reached out to this newspaper in total desperation.
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They did not seek any payment.
They just wanted the payments harming their child to stop.
The BBC has a sorry history of ignoring complaints and rumours about its own presenters, sometimes with appalling consequences.
It must urgently come clean about its actions in this latest case — or risk irreparable damage to public trust.
Labour chiller
IN AN affront to Press freedom, Labour will oppose the Government’s bid to repeal Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act.
The clause would force publishers who don’t sign up to a state-backed watchdog to pay legal fees of people suing them, even if they win the case.
The chilling effect this would have on the ability to expose wrongdoing by the rich and powerful cannot be overstated.
Labour says there is no point repealing Section 40 because it has never been enacted.
What disingenuous rubbish.
While it sits on the Statute books, suspicions will remain that the party’s real intention is to use the clause in power to shackle any media that disagrees with it.
Test special
WHAT a weekend for UK sport.
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Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton made the podium at Silverstone.
And we got a delicious England win in the third Ashes Test — with no Aussie-style underhand tactics needed.