The chair of Westminster’s Northern Ireland Affairs Committee has said it will consider reviewing “governance issues” at BBC NI stemming from the controversy involving Stephen Nolan.
Sir Robert Buckland told the Irish News: “If there are ongoing questions about governance, of course we will be happy to investigate to see if there are further questions that the BBC needs to answer. ” he said.
His comments came after SDLP MPs Colum Eastwood and Clare Hanna wrote to the chairs of two Westminster committees, raising “serious issues” in relation to the revelations about Mr Nolan’s conduct. It took place about 5 months after.
In August, the 50-year-old presenter apologized on air for sending sexually explicit images to a work colleague.
Weeks later, DUP MP Gregory Campbell claimed that Mr Nolan, the BBC’s fifth highest paid presenter, had “rigged” the recruitment process for a producer position on his radio show.
The East Delhi MP claimed that radio and TV hosts asked interview questions to one candidate in advance in the House.
Campbell also said the employee in question intends to appear before the commission to discuss the allegations.
In a letter to the then chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Simon Hoare, and his counterpart on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, SDLP MPs raised concerns about the “balance of editorial decisions” at BBC NI. expressed.
Sir Roberts said he was also aware of the letter sent to his predecessor and “specific incidents” for which Mr Nolan apologized and “raised governance concerns”.
He said he could not comment “on individuals” and said it was not the committee’s role to investigate individual cases.
“I think we should expect the BBC and its broadcasters to deliver the highest standards,” he said.
“If there are ongoing questions about governance, then of course we would be happy to look into it to see if there are any further questions that the BBC needs to answer.”
If you have any ongoing questions about governance, we would be happy to review them to see if there are any further questions that the BBC needs answered.
— sir robert buckland
An SDLP spokesperson said the party had raised “a number of serious issues” about BBC Northern Ireland with the Westminster select committee, including “related to editorial decision-making, independent production companies” “These include governance concerns, particularly the organizational culture that has guided executives.” Woman, I’m leaving. ”
“Confidence in the BBC as an institution depends on its ability to address many of these issues,” the spokesperson said.
“We continue to press the organization’s leadership and Westminster to intervene in the interests of local audiences.”
A BBC spokesperson said: “We are happy to discuss the BBC’s work in Northern Ireland with Sir Robert and provide assurances about the rigor, independence and impartiality of our journalism.” We take responsibility for our actions and are proud of the contribution that BBC staff and services make to the lives of our communities. ”