More than 400 media figures urge BBC board to remove Robbie Gibb over Gaza
The signatories also include 111 BBC journalists and Zawe Ashton, Khalid Abdalla, Shola Mos-Shogbamimu and the historian William Dalrymple, who express 'concerns over opaque editorial decisions and censorship at the BBC on the reporting of Israel/Palestine'.
Delivered on the eve of Channel 4's airing of the documentary Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, which the BBC commissioned but shelved as it said it 'risked creating a perception of partiality', the letter alleges the decision to drop the film 'demonstrates, once again, that the BBC is not reporting 'without fear or favour' when it comes to Israel'.
It also accuses the BBC of being 'crippled by the fear of being perceived as critical of the Israeli government' and claims the 'inconsistent manner in which guidance is applied draws into focus the role of Gibb, on the BBC Board and BBC's editorial standards committee' as 'we are concerned that an individual with close ties to the Jewish Chronicle … has a say in the BBC's editorial decisions in any capacity, including the decision not to broadcast Gaza: Medics Under Fire'.
Gibb, Theresa May's former spin doctor and a former head of the BBC's Westminster political team, led the consortium that bought the Jewish Chronicle in 2020 and, up until August 2024, was a director of Jewish Chronicle Media.
The letter, organised by a group of BBC insiders, says: 'For many of us, our efforts have been frustrated by opaque decisions made at senior levels of the BBC without discussion or explanation. Our failures impact audiences.
'As an organisation we have not offered any significant analysis of the UK government's involvement in the war on Palestinians. We have failed to report on weapons sales or their legal implications. These stories have instead been broken by the BBC's competitors.'
The statement alleges Gibb has a 'conflict of interest' which 'highlights a double standard for BBC content makers who have themselves experienced censorship in the name of 'impartiality'.'
It adds: 'In some instances staff have been accused of having an agenda because they have posted news articles critical of the Israeli government on their social media. By comparison, Gibb remains in an influential post with little transparency regarding his decisions despite his ideological leanings being well known. We can no longer ask license fee payers to overlook Gibbs's ideological allegiances.'
The letter concludes: 'We, the undersigned BBC staff, freelancers and industry figures are extremely concerned that the BBC's reporting on Israel and Palestine continues to fall short of the standards our audiences expect. We believe the role of Robbie Gibb, both on the board, and as part of the editorial standards committee, is untenable. We call on the BBC to do better for our audiences and recommit to our values of impartiality, honesty and reporting without fear or favour.'
Owing to their fear of repercussions, the 111 BBC journalists signed anonymously.
A BBC spokesperson said: 'Robust discussions amongst our editorial teams about our journalism are an essential part of the editorial process. We have ongoing discussions about coverage and listen to feedback from staff and we think these conversations are best had internally.
'Regarding our coverage of Gaza, the BBC is fully committed to covering the conflict impartially and has produced powerful coverage from the region. Alongside breaking news, ongoing analysis, and investigations, we have produced award winning documentaries such as Life and Death in Gaza, and Gaza 101.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
7 minutes ago
- Metro
Bend It Like Beckham director confirms sequel and teases original cast's return
An exciting movie sequel is afoot, it has been confirmed. Released in 2002, Bend It Like Beckham starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra and is credited with inspiring a generation of girls to take up football. Its plot follows Jesminder Bhamra (Nagra), who dreams of a career in professional footie. However, her Sikh parents want her to study for a law degree and get married. She meets Jules Paxton (Knightley), a white female striker who invites Jess to join the local women's team. The sports comedy-drama—named after Sir David's iconic curling free kick technique—has certainly stood the test of time and retained its fanbase in the years since, having even been adapted into a stage musical in 2015. And now, its director, Gurinder Chadha, has announced that a second instalment is in the works. The timing of the announcement couldn't be more fitting, since the Lionesses are due to take on Spain in the Euro 2025 final on Sunday. Chadha also hopes to schedule the sequel's release for 2027, not only to coincide with the original movie's 20th anniversary but with the Fifa Women's World Cup in Brazil too. And while nothing is set in stone and meetings are yet to be had, the filmmaker is hopeful that the original cast will reprise their roles. 'We've been part of changing the game for women, so it felt like this was a good time for me to go back and investigate the characters,' she told BBC. The London-based director added to Deadline: 'I'm excited to revisit the original characters and revive the enduring story and build on the legacy we helped to create for the women's game.' She confirmed that Nagra, Knightley, Archie Punjabi, Juliet Stevenson, and other cast members 'are aware that a sequel is being developed, but they obviously want to see a script before they commit'. 'I'm pretty certain that everyone's going to want to come back,' she said with optimism. 'Everything hinges on the script, and if the original cast likes it. 'I am working really hard to make sure every character I bring back has a decent arc and scenes.' As for why it's taken over two decades for the ball to start rolling for a sequel (pun fully intended), Chadha 'didn't want' to touch the idea because she 'didn't have a story'. Teasing what fans can expect from the currently nameless sequel, she continued: 'And then I came up with a great story, really super-cool story. So now I'm inspired. Literally came up with it just about a month ago.' She's keen to get the cast back 'very, very soon', declaring proudly: 'Women's football is more competitive, more exciting, and more global than ever. It is an honour for me to be a small part of it.' A Bend It Like Beckham sequel would undoubtedly be huge for cinema, what with the original grossing $76.7million (£57m) against its $5.6m (£4.2m) budget. The film has also become adored by many communities of cinema fans over time, thanks to its exploration of women in sport and the expectations of South Asian women in society. What's more, while not explicitly queer, its storylines deeply resonated with LGBTQ+ viewers, leading to the film being adopted as a lesbian cult classic. Its upcoming sequel even has the backing of Lisa Nandy MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who will attend the Euros final with Chadha this weekend. 'Bend It Like Beckham captured something so special about Britain, our spirit, our diversity, and our ability to dream big in the face of challenge,' she said. 'Gurinder Chadha gave us a story that resonated far beyond the screen and became part of our cultural DNA.' Nandy added: 'The announcement of a follow-up is a brilliant moment for British film. It builds on a legacy that continues to inspire and shows the world what British storytelling can do. Productions like this help tell our national story, remind us who we are, and who we can be.' Chadha is hoping her husband, Paul Mayeda Berges, will also be back on board to help pen the screenplay, as he did the first, to reignite the magic. More Trending 'I'm hoping to write it with Paul, who has come up with some very funny lines like he did last time.' One thing's for sure, and it's that, in the era of Freakier Friday and Happy Gilmore 2, the news is being eaten up by nostalgia hungry social media users, with plenty branding the announcement exactly 'what we need'. 'one of the greatest movies ever. bring back the original cast', wrote @rasalistair on X. 'MY CHILDHOOD! LETS GO!', added @AnthonyDaytv. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 00s pop star reveals pain of fame forcing him 'back into the closet' MORE: Netflix viewers rush to watch 'absorbing' reboot of beloved Scottish crime drama MORE: 00s pop icon reveals how crystal meth addiction 'almost killed' him
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Elite police unit to monitor social media for anti-migrant posts
An elite unit of detectives is being convened to monitor social media for anti-migrant posts. The National Internet Intelligence Investigations team will operate from the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) in Westminster, drawing officers from forces across England and Wales. The unit will be tasked with flagging early signs of potential civil unrest and 'maximizing social media intelligence', after last year's riots exposed gaps in police planning. Home Office ministers say it will give local commanders national support to spot and respond to online threats. The move comes as protests outside asylum hotels spread across the country. On Saturday, crowds gathered in Norwich, Leeds and Bournemouth to demand action, with further demonstrations planned. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner warned the Cabinet that ministers must tackle 'the real concerns that people have' about immigration to prevent disorder. Critics seized on the plan, branding it 'disturbing' and warning of free‑speech infringements. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused the Government of trying 'to police what you post, what you share, what you think' because it 'can't police the streets' itself. 'Labour have stopped pretending to fix Britain and started trying to mute it,' he added, accusing ministers of favouring surveillance over frontline policing. The NPoCC, which led the nationwide police response to Covid lockdowns under Operation Talla, will co‑ordinate the new unit. Details of the unit emerged in a letter to MPs from Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, published before parliament's summer recess. She confirmed ministers were acting on recommendations from the Commons Home Affairs Committee and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, both of which urged a nationally co‑ordinated social‑media monitoring capability. Dame Diana wrote that the new team 'will provide a national capability to monitor social media intelligence and advise on its use to inform local operational decision‑making,' helping forces to manage public‑safety threats and risks. While initial funding runs until 2026, she said future support would depend on spending priorities. A Home Office spokesman said: 'This new team will help police forces track real-time information and protect communities from incidents and emergencies before they escalate. 'As part of the government's Plan for Change, we are restoring visible, neighbourhood policing, focused on the public's priorities, including halving knife crime and violence against women, clamping down on theft and anti-social behaviour, and ensuring that people can feel safe in their own high streets.'
The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Bend It Like Beckham sequel planned more than 20 years after first film
Director Gurinder Chadha OBE has announced that a follow-up to her hit film Bend It Like Beckham is currently in development. Chadha revealed she has finally found a "fantastic story" for the sequel after 23 years of searching, inspired by the significant growth of women's football. The new project is targeting a 2027 release, which will coincide with the original film's 25th anniversary and the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Chadha hopes to reunite the original cast, including Parminder Nagra and Keira Knightley, and has enlisted US women's national team manager Emma Hayes to collaborate on the script. The original 2002 film, made on a budget of £3.5 million, grossed almost £60 million worldwide and is widely credited with inspiring a generation of female footballers.
