BBC bosses accused of ‘collusion’ with Sadiq Khan to silence ULEZ criticism

A senior news producer on the BBC has leaked messages which present that the Corporation is limiting crucial protection of Sadiq Khan’s controversial growth of the Ultral Low Emmission Zone.

The plans are set to hit round 70,000 hard-pressed motorists dwelling within the capital with a cost of £12.50 per day as a result of their automobiles usually are not ULEZ compliant.

Hundreds of 1000’s extra commmuters and companies from exterior London as properly will probably be hit too in what has been described as “a tax grab” which might value individuals greater than £4,500 per automobile annually.

The leak to Reform UK Mayoral candidate Howard Cox, who has led Fair Fuel UK for many years, reveals that Mr Khan had utilized strain on the BBC over reporting the problem.

It mentioned that journalists desirous to run tales now wanted prime stage clearance over one thing that’s set to be a serious electoral problem within the London Mayor election and common election each subsequent yr.

The BBC producer was informed in an electronic mail to news workers from Dan Fineman Senior News Editor BBC South East: “If any platforms are doing a story on ULEZ charges in the South and Southeast we now need to do a mandatory referral to Jason Horton or Robert Thomson (re) outstanding complaint with the Mayor of London which is very live at the moment.”

Jason Horton is the Director of Production (Local Services) at BBC News and Current Affairs, Head of BBC South Today and BBC Southeast. He can be an Acting Director at BBC England.

Robert Thomson is BBC’s Managing Editor for Online and TV in BBC England.

According to Reform UK, the BBC whistleblower informed Mr Cox: “All ULEZ stories are now a mandatory referral.

“We can’t report with out BBC bosses saying we are able to. Now you inform me Howard, that does not cease individuals from doing it, in case he (Sadiq Khan) complains about them too?

“Unreal to have such an edict put on us – by a politician and my bosses running scared of Khan!

“I additionally consider a BBC London investigation into ULEZ has now been paused due to the Mayor of London’s strain on the BBC.”

Mr Cox has accused the BBC of “undemocratic collusion” with the Labour London Mayor.

He approached Tim Burke, the Editor of Politics England and Complaints, Editorial Standards, N&R Scheduling, Compliance, for an explanation.

Mr Burke said: “These kinds of referrals are not unusual, and it is part of normal senior editorial oversight of output as stories develop and progress.

“We have full editorial independence over the content material we produce, and we are going to cowl the ULEZ debate from a variety of views with out concern or favour.”

However, the producer who revealed the coverage, claimed that the BBC was “saying one thing publicly to appease, while asking staff to act in another way and control the narrative.”

Mr Cox informed Express.co.uk: “We all know UK’s perennially demonised drivers, that pay the BBC’s £159 annual licence charge, have by no means received neutral news protection or balanced reporting on driving points.

“It is much more alarming and really disturbing that the BBC’s news agenda is now even being dictated to by London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan.”

A BBC spokesman mentioned: “Impartiality is at the core of the BBC’s mission and public purposes, so we will continue to cover the ULEZ debate from a range of perspectives without fear or favour.”

A spokesman for the Mayor of London mentioned: “As you would expect, our press and communications teams are in regular contact with the BBC and other media outlets about Sadiq’s work to create a safer, greener and fairer London for all.

“This can occasionally include correcting or clarifying any inaccuracies that may arise in media coverage.”