BBC chairman asks for review after claims he was involved in Boris Johnson securing loan

BBC Chairman Richard Sharp on Monday asked the broadcaster’s nominations committee to look into any potential conflicts of interest as questions grew over his involvement in an

£800,000 loan for Boris Johnson when he was Prime Minister. In an email to all BBC staff on Monday morning, Mr Sharp said he wanted to ensure “all the appropriate

guidelines have been followed”. He said: “We have many challenges at the BBC and I know that distractions such as this are not welcome. “Our work at the BBC is rooted

in trust. Although the appointment of the BBC chairman is solely a matter for the Government ... I want to ensure that all the appropriate guidelines have been followed within the

BBC since I have joined.” The Sunday Times reported that Mr Sharp, a former Goldman Sachs banker and Tory donor, was involved in talks to arrange the loan for Mr Johnson,

underwritten by the Canadian businessman Sam Blyth, in late 2020. The newspaper claimed Mr Blyth raised the idea of underwriting the facility with Mr Sharp who then brought

the suggestion to Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary. Mr Sharp insisted yesterday: “There is not a conflict when I simply connected, at his request, Mr Blyth with the Cabinet

Secretary and had no further involvement whatsoever.” But Roger Mosey, one of the broadcaster’s former top news executives, said the decision to hand him the high profile

role was “surprising”. The former Editorial Director and head of TV news told Times Radio: “If you look at all the people in the whole of the UK in an appointment process,

was Richard Sharp the one with the editorial and journalistic and media industry nous? I simply raise an eyebrow.