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Yentob won't face BBC Trust probe over Kids Company as he has quit Yentob won't face BBC Trust probe over Kids Company as he has quit
(35 minutes later)
The BBC’s governing body will not investigate accusations that Alan Yentob tried to influence the BBC’s coverage of Kids Company, because now he has stepped down as creative director it is “not proportionate, appropriate or cost effective”.The BBC’s governing body will not investigate accusations that Alan Yentob tried to influence the BBC’s coverage of Kids Company, because now he has stepped down as creative director it is “not proportionate, appropriate or cost effective”.
The BBC Trust said that it had “listened” to the specific programmes that Yentob is accused of attempting to influence - on Newsnight, the Today programme and World at One - and found that there was “no evidence that the integrity of the output had been affected”.The BBC Trust said that it had “listened” to the specific programmes that Yentob is accused of attempting to influence - on Newsnight, the Today programme and World at One - and found that there was “no evidence that the integrity of the output had been affected”.
The trust’s editorial standards committee said that Yentob, who stood down as the BBC’s creative director on Thursday following mounting pressure over the Kids Company scandal, was not in the management chain for BBC News and that the corporation had “frequently led” on breaking news about the failed charity.The trust’s editorial standards committee said that Yentob, who stood down as the BBC’s creative director on Thursday following mounting pressure over the Kids Company scandal, was not in the management chain for BBC News and that the corporation had “frequently led” on breaking news about the failed charity.
Critics of the BBC, which had previously already cleared Yentob of wrongdoing in its own investigation, argue that regardless of whether the news output was affected there needs to be an investigation into the alleged attempts to influence the programmes.Critics of the BBC, which had previously already cleared Yentob of wrongdoing in its own investigation, argue that regardless of whether the news output was affected there needs to be an investigation into the alleged attempts to influence the programmes.
The trust rejected launching a wider investigation because it said it took management’s word that programming output had not been affected, and that it was a moot point now Yentob had stood down from his senior management role.The trust rejected launching a wider investigation because it said it took management’s word that programming output had not been affected, and that it was a moot point now Yentob had stood down from his senior management role.
“There had been wider questions about Yentob’s behaviour in connection to the three programmes and whether there was any potential impact on the reputation of the BBC,” the BBC Trust said. “And given Yentob has now stepped down as the BBC’s creative director, it would not be proportionate, appropriate or cost effective to look further at these matters.” “There had been wider questions about Yentob’s behaviour in connection to the three programmes and whether there was any potential impact on the reputation of the BBC,” the trust said. “And given Yentob has now stepped down as the BBC’s creative director, it would not be proportionate, appropriate or cost effective to look further at these matters.”
Despite opting not to launch an official investigation into Yentob’s behaviour, the BBC Trust has decided that there might be “lessons to be learned” from the Yentob incidents. Despite opting not to launch an official investigation into Yentob’s behaviour, the trust has decided that there might be “lessons to be learned” from the Yentob incidents.
To this end the trust has asked David Jordan, the BBC’s director of editorial policy and standards, to file a report early next year giving his view on whether changes should be made to the “processes for managing conflicts affecting senior managers”. To this end it has asked David Jordan, the BBC’s director of editorial policy and standards, to file a report early next year giving his view on whether changes should be made to the “processes for managing conflicts affecting senior managers”.
Jordan has been asked to look at a number of areas including whether there needs to be additional rules applied to external activities undertaken by senior managers. Jordan has been asked to look at a number of areas, including whether there needs to be additional rules applied to external activities undertaken by senior managers.
And whether “any more specific measures should apply when an external activity becomes the focus of news coverage”.And whether “any more specific measures should apply when an external activity becomes the focus of news coverage”.
The BBC Trust said it could look to take “further action” depending on the conclusions Jordan draws in his report.The BBC Trust said it could look to take “further action” depending on the conclusions Jordan draws in his report.
Yentob has been accused of trying to influence news coverage of Kids Company, where he was chairman, by making a phone call to Newsnight ahead of a report on the charity.Yentob has been accused of trying to influence news coverage of Kids Company, where he was chairman, by making a phone call to Newsnight ahead of a report on the charity.
The call was made to a senior staff member at Newsnight, thought to be editor Ian Katz, supposedly asking him to delay a report critical of financial management at Kids Company. The call was made to a senior staff member at Newsnight, thought to be the editor Ian Katz, supposedly asking him to delay a report critical of financial management at Kids Company.
Yentob also accompanied the charity’s chief executive, Camila Batmanghelidjh, to Radio 4’s Today programme in July where he stood beside a producer during the interview.Yentob also accompanied the charity’s chief executive, Camila Batmanghelidjh, to Radio 4’s Today programme in July where he stood beside a producer during the interview.
“If it was intimidating, I regret it,” he later told a committee of MPs.“If it was intimidating, I regret it,” he later told a committee of MPs.
He also telephoned Radio 4 presenter Ed Stourton ahead of a report on The World at One.He also telephoned Radio 4 presenter Ed Stourton ahead of a report on The World at One.
He has also been accused by the Daily Mail of launching a “verbal attack” on the BBC’s special news correspondent Lucy Manning, who was compiling a report on sexual abuse allegations at the charity.He has also been accused by the Daily Mail of launching a “verbal attack” on the BBC’s special news correspondent Lucy Manning, who was compiling a report on sexual abuse allegations at the charity.
He admitted the incident to the Mail, but said it was “absolute nonsense” to suggest that it constituted inappropriate interference with the BBC’s coverage.He admitted the incident to the Mail, but said it was “absolute nonsense” to suggest that it constituted inappropriate interference with the BBC’s coverage.
“I have apologised,” he told the Mail. “I didn’t have a go about her. I said to her, ‘This is about the kids.’”“I have apologised,” he told the Mail. “I didn’t have a go about her. I said to her, ‘This is about the kids.’”
The BBC Trust also concluded that there was no conflict of interest in Yentob holding the role of BBC creative director while also chairman of Kids Company. The BBC Trust also concluded that there was no conflict of interest in Yentob holding the role of BBC creative director while also the chairman of Kids Company.