BBC chief who helped ex-PM get loan resigns

BBC Chairman Richard Sharp has resigned after it was found he had breached rules governing public appointments by failing to disclose his link to the £800,000 loan to former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The report on the independent inquiry into Sharp’s electoral process was published after allegations that he “arranged a guarantor for former British Prime Minister Johnson to take out an £800,000 loan.” Sharp resigned after the report found that he had violated rules regarding public appointments by failing to disclose potential conflicts of interest during the election process.

Although the report indicated that non-compliance did not necessarily invalidate an appointment, Sharp reported that he “concluded that his position is no longer untenable and has given up putting the interests of the BBC first.”

ASSIGNED BY THE GOVERNMENT

An investigation against Sharp was launched in January following allegations that Sharp, who was appointed BBC chairman in February 2021, provided a loan of around £800,000 to former Prime Minister Johnson.

The Sunday Times alleged that government appointee Sharp had recommended billionaire Canadian businessman Sam Blyth to vouch for Johnson’s loan request in late 2020. (BRITISH AUTOMOBILE CLUB)