Trump-BBC live updates: Tim Davie urges staff to ‘fight for our journalism’ amid US president’s $1bn legal threat – UK Times

• Tim Davie began by acknowledging it had been a “tough few days” and said “we all need to be looking after each other and making sure we set everything in context”.

• He insisted the BBC will “thrive” as he said the narrative “will not just be given by our enemies”.

• Stepping away from his personal decision to leave his post, he said the BBC is “more than one person” and said “it’s all of our actions together and us working and doing our business every single day”, praising the work done across the organisation.

• He said the BBC must “be very clear and stand up for our journalism”, saying he sees “the free press under pressure”, and insisted the BBC “must fight for our journalism.

• Davie said that while mistakes “have cost us”, he is “fiercely proud” and said its work “speaks louder than any newspaper, any weaponisation”.

• Speaking about his decision to resign he said the relentlessness of the role, the upcoming Charter renewal and criticism of the Panorama documentary on Trump were all contributing factors.

Several Labour backbenchers have called on culture secretary Lisa Nandy to remove Sir Robbie Gibb, a former political adviser to Theresa May when she was prime minister, from the BBC Board.

Answering a question from Labour MP Sarah Owen (Luton North), Ms Nandy said: “The charter sets a strict legal threshold that must be met before dismissal of a board member, and so I am unable to pursue the course of action that she suggests.”

But this was only the latest in a series of controversies and scandals which have scarred the broadcaster in recent years, with accusations of institutional bias levelled at the broadcaster from both sides of the political spectrum.

US president Donald Trump said on Monday that he has an “obligation” to sue BBC for misrepresenting his comments ahead of the 6 January 2021 attacks on the US Capitol.

“Well, I think I have an obligation to do it,” Trump told Fox News in an interview.

The US president’s threat to sue Auntie over its January 6 coverage may thrill his base – but legally, it’s a non-starter, says Mark Stephens. The real risk lies in how the broadcaster responds.

A media lawyer has explained the “significant legal hurdles” Donald Trump faces to sue the BBC.

The U.S president has threatened to sue the broadcasting corporation for $1 billion, following criticism over how a speech he made was edited and used in a Panorama documentary.

Media lawyer Mark Stephens appeared on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday (11 November) to discuss the hurdles the U.S president could face.

He explained: “The UK defamation claim is now out of time. He had one year from Monday October 28, 2024, when Panorama aired so he is 14 days out of time or so in the UK.”

Many have questioned the BBC’s response to the leaked memo, saying the corporation failed to either “properly defend itself” from criticism or issue an apology.

The BBC’s culture and media editor, Katie Razzall, reported that the broadcaster had a statement “ready to go”, admitting it should have made it clear there had been splicing of the speech but that instead, the board decided to send a letter to parliament’s culture, media and sport committee.

It was also reported that Ms Turness was “ripped apart” by a board meeting last week about the Telegraph reports.

The former editor of The Sun newspaper described the resignations as a “coup” and an “inside job”.

A former Downing Street communications chief suggested the broadcaster had not properly defended itself, saying: “We’re living in a fast-moving digital world where there are a lot of people who want to attack the BBC, and what we’ve seen is really a vacuum that has been created.

“It’s been obvious for days now that the BBC needed to step up, explain, apologise, move on.”

Sir Robbie Gibb’s position on the BBC board is being called into question amid bias accusations at the broadcaster.

Sir Robbie served as director of communications for Theresa May when she was in Downing Street as Conservative prime minister before his appointment to the broadcaster’s board.

Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said his position fuelled doubt and debate about BBC independence and impartiality.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said Sir Robbie should be removed from the board immediately.

SNP leader Mr Swinney told LBC: “Robbie Gibb is a very clearly affiliated party political figure on the board of the BBC.

“If the BBC wants to be viewed as an impartial organisation that’s authoritative, that reflects the independence of commentary, then I think Robbie Gibb’s position is untenable.”

In The Guardian, Sir Ed wrote that Sir Robbie should not have a say in choosing the BBC’s next director-general.