BBC branded ‘a secure haven for perverts’ as Tory MPs demand licence charge scrapped

Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson has branded the BBC “a safe haven for perverts” and Conservative MPs demand that the licence charge is scrapped within the wake of the newest scandal.

The fury has come after the BBC introduced final evening that it was suspending one in every of its high-profile presenters following allegations that the highest TV character had paid £35,000 for sexual footage from a 17-year-old who then used the cash to pay for his heroin dependancy.

It emerged that earlier than the Sun revealed the allegations, the BBC has been knowledgeable by {the teenager}’s mom in a criticism greater than a month earlier than.

But with echoes of earlier severe sexual abuse scandals which have wracked the Corporation, the BBC did not act.

Mr Anderson right this moment has led calls from his colleagues that the licence charge scrapped on account of the newest revelations.

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MPs have warned that the BBC has already been by means of scandals involving Jimmy Saville, Rolf Harris and Stuart Hall earlier than with questions over whether or not it was a part of a cover-up.

Mr Anderson, who can be a presenter on GB News, blasted: “When bad things happen once in a lifetime within an organisation then it can be considered a scandal.

“The BBC have given us a complete raft of perverts together with Jimmy Savile, Rolf Harris and Stuart Hall. Why is anybody shocked?

“Express readers will know my ideas on the BBC. It’s time this tax payer funded secure haven for perverts was made a subscription service.”

Meanwhile, Shipley Conservative MP and fellow GB News host Philip Davies added his voice saying that Director General Tim Davie has inquiries to reply.

Mr Davies mentioned: “Tim Davie has a lot of explaining to do – why they did nothing until it surfaced in the papers when a complaint had gone in over a month ago.

“Why senior BBC had been apparently partying with the particular person involved after the criticism went in, why he wasn’t suspended immediately; had he met the household to debate the intense criticism personally?

“This is one more disaster for the BBC and for Tim Davie personally.”

Dudley North MP Marco Longhi mentioned that the scandal added to issues concerning the lack of impartiality on the BBC.

He mentioned: “When a news channel is frequently in the news itself it begs serious governance questions.

“We have seen that impartiality went out the window a few years in the past with the Brexit referendum protection exemplifying how the organisation was keener to attain what it wished reasonably than portraying details in a good means. The individuals noticed by means of this.

“I cannot support the licence fee any longer and this latest event just shows how, again, the organisation seems to be more concerned about its own reputation management than facts and transparency.

“Tim Davie ought to be answering these questions.”

Meanwhile, Dame Caroline Dinenage, chairwoman of the Culture, Media and Sports Committee, has suggested that she is considering bringing Tim Davie in for questioning at a later date.

She said: “I spoke to Tim Davie yesterday and obtained assurances that the BBC are treating this matter severely, sensitively and with urgency.

“I’m aware of the duty of care to both alleged victim and perpetrator in this case, so intend to wait until we have more info before commenting further.”

In an announcement yesterday, the BBC mentioned it was working as quick as attainable “to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps”.

It went on: “The BBC first grew to become conscious of a criticism in May.

“New allegations had been put to us on Thursday of a special nature and along with our personal enquiries now we have additionally been in contact with exterior authorities, according to our protocols.”

A BBC spokesperson mentioned: “The BBC takes any allegations severely and now we have strong inside processes in place to proactively cope with such allegations.

“This is a fancy and fast-paced set of circumstances and the BBC is working as rapidly as attainable to determine the details with a view to correctly inform acceptable subsequent steps.

“It is vital that these issues are dealt with pretty and with care.

“We have been clear that if – at any point – new information comes to light or is provided to us, this will be acted upon appropriately and actively followed up.

“The BBC first grew to become conscious of a criticism in May. New allegations had been put to us on Thursday of a special nature and along with our personal enquiries now we have additionally been in contact with exterior authorities, according to our protocols.

“We can also confirm a male member of staff has been suspended.

“We count on to be able to offer an additional replace within the coming days as the method continues. The BBC Board will proceed to be saved updated.”