2025 BBC editorial bias allegations

In November 2025, the BBC faced controversy over allegations of systemic editorial bias, following the release of a leaked internal memo by Michael Prescott, a former adviser to the BBC's Editorial Standards Committee. The memo raised concerns about the BBC's coverage of sensitive and politically charged issues over the years. As a result of these revelations, BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness resigned, facing extensive media criticism and public calls for reform. The BBC chaiman, Samir Shah, made a statement to parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee and US President Trump threatened legal action.

Director-General Tim Davie

The circumstances of the memo and wider reporting, while acknowledging the inappropriate editing of a Trump speech in a 2024 Panorama programme, also saw criticism for links to right-wing individuals within British politics. This included the alleged role of BBC board member Robbie Gibb, who had worked as an editorial advisor to the right-wing GB News channel, and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had appointed him to the board, and their prior relationships with Prescott. In the course of the controversy, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey and Scotland's First Minister John Swinney called for Gibb's removal from the BBC board.

Overview of allegations

One controversial issue was the misleading editing of President Donald Trump's speech during his 6 January 2021 address, where selective editing made it appear that Trump incited the Capitol Hill riots.

In November 2025, the controversy escalated when a memo written Michael Prescott, a former adviser to the BBC's Editorial Standards Committee where he served for three years, was leaked to The Daily Telegraph. During his time in BBC, Prescott had regular access to evidence of perceived journalistic failures and groupthink within the BBC.^[1] In the 19 page memo, Prescott outlined what he described as systemic bias within the BBC newsroom, highlighting the failure of senior management to address these issues. Prescott's memo further reflected his loss of confidence in the BBC leadership, including Director-General Tim Davie and CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness.

One prominent example presented was editing in a Panorama programme, broadcast in October 2024 one week before the 2024 U.S. presidential election, of President Donald Trump's speech during his 6 January 2021 address which was suggested to be misleading in making it appear that Trump incited the Capitol Hill riots. Prescott also expressed concerns regarding the BBC's coverage of transgender issues, stating that its reporting was effectively "censored" by LGBT specialist reporters who promoted a pro-trans agenda. He conveyed feeling "despair" at the lack of action from BBC management "when issues come to light."^[2][3]

The memo also contained criticism in regards to how the BBC in various forms had covered the ongoing Gaza war. This included its coverage of contributors, particularly on BBC Arabic, with concerns raised about biased coverage in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The memo alleged that BBC Arabic had consistently downplayed Israeli suffering in the context of the Israel-Hamas war and had featured contributors sympathetic to Hamas without disclosing their affiliations.^[4][5] The Prescott document also highlighted how the BBC's flagship current affairs programme Newsnight highlighted claims that thousands of babies were on the brink of starvation in Gaza that it already knew to be false. It alleged that BBC Arabic gave extensive coverage to stories that painted Israel as the aggressor while burying stories that contradicted that narrative.^[6][7][8]

Beyond this the memo also claimed that producers of four BBC programmes with historical content preferred non-expert academics who provided quotable sound bites on topics like racism and prejudice. This approach, according to Prescott, led to oversimplified and distorted narratives about British colonialism, slavery, and their lasting effects.^[9]

BBC response

BBC chairman Samir Shah

In response to the claims, the BBC acknowledged the issues raised but defended its editorial decisions, insisting that corrections were made when errors were identified. The BBC's chairman, Samir Shah, and Director-General, Tim Davie, faced mounting pressure as the accusations continued to grow. On 9 November 2025, both Tim Davie and Deborah Turness resigned from their positions at the BBC.^[10]

The BBC stated that it would implement reforms to improve transparency and impartiality in its coverage. However, the resignation of key executives did little to quell the criticism, with many commentators arguing that the BBC's systemic issues with bias went deeper than the departures of two senior.^[11]

On 10 November, BBC chairman Samir Shah publicly apologized for an "error of judgment" in the way the speech by president Donald Trump was edited.^[11] Shah however pushed back against the wider claims of the memo, stating that Prescott's claims failed to present a "full picture of the discussions, decisions and actions that were taken" and that it was untrue for reporting to suggest that the BBC had attempted to bury concerns.^[12]

Other responses

Following the initial reporting, Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, wrote to BBC chair Samir Shah requesting details on how the BBC had addressed Prescott's concerns.^[13]

The response from the UK government and other political figures varied. Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage called for further reforms at the BBC, with Farage demanding that the BBC be restructured to ensure greater accountability. Farage even suggested that if these changes were not made, there would be a widespread refusal to pay the licence fee which funds the BBC.^[13] Former prime minister Boris Johnson, in an article for The Daily Telegraph, demanded an explanation from Tim Davie or his resignation. ^[14][13]

The pro-Israel advocacy group CAMERA (Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting & Analysis) issued a press release stating that the leaked memo vindicated its long-standing complaints of bias and called for a parliamentary inquiry into the BBC's international services.^[15] The Times reported that multiple BBC Arabic staff were under investigation for alleged breaches of impartiality rules and for anti-Israel remarks.^[16]

Internationally, the White House condemned the BBC's actions, with Trump thanking The Telegraph for exposing the alleged bias. Trump's administration also called for an independent inquiry into the BBC's operations.^[17] On 10 November, the BBC reported that it received a letter from Trump in which he threatened legal action over the edited version of his speech documented in a BBC documentary.^[11]

Alleged roles of Robbie Gibb and Boris Johnson

Sources within the BBC told The Guardian that the board member who "led the charge" over the claims made in Prescott's letter was Robbie Gibb, Theresa May's former communications chief, and spoke of a political "coup".^[18] Gibb, who was appointed to the BBC board by Boris Johnson and confirmed by Rishi Sunak, had previously helped to found the right-wing GB News channel and had also led a consortium that bought The Jewish Chronicle on behalf of a secret backer whose identity has never been revealed; the purchase was followed by a pronounced shift of the Chronicle to the right and a journalistic scandal involving fabricated stories.^[19][20]

It was also reported that Robbie Gibb and Michael Prescott, the memo's author, were friends, and that Michael Prescott had previously been involved in efforts by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson to install a preferred candidate as head of Ofcom. According to The Guardian it was alleged that the leaking itself was part of a coordinated effort to undermine the organisation, which Boris Johnson denied as "complete and utter bollocks".^[21]

On 10 November, LibDem leader Ed Davey called for Gibb's removal from the BBC board, arguing that Gibb should have "no role" in appointing the new director general.^[22][23][24] John Swinney, Scotland's First Minister, also called for Gibb's removal.^[25][26]

See also

• Criticism of the BBC
• Balen Report
• BBC controversies
• Panorama (British TV programme)