Richard Sharp steps down as chairman of the BBC following revelations of his involvement in facilitating a loan for former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
TWC – Richard Sharp, the chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), has resigned following a report that revealed his involvement in facilitating a loan of almost $1 million for former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Sharp claimed the breach was “inadvertent and not material,” but acknowledged his resignation was necessary to “prioritize the interests of the BBC.”
An independent report found Sharp failed to disclose his potential conflicts of interest to the cross-party panel of MPs advising ministers on his appointment. The report also revealed that Sharp acted as a middleman when Johnson sought to secure the loan weeks before Sharp was appointed to his post in 2021. Sharp had previously denied involvement in the arrangement or a conflict of interest.
The BBC has been involved in controversy this year, with the suspension of star football presenter Gary Lineker for criticizing the government’s migration policy. Lineker was later reinstated after a review into what freelancers outside of the news arm of the corporation can say on social media. The BBC is funded by a license fee paid by every household that owns a television or watches streaming content.