Select committee: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Conclusion 33
Eighth Report - Appointment of Richard Sharp as Chair of the BBC
Published 12 Feb 2023
Addressed to Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee Appointment of Richard Sharp as Chair of the BBC All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The fact that Ministers have cited this Committee’s original report on Mr Sharp’s appointment as a defence of the process was followed, when we were not in full possession of all the facts that we should have had before us in order to come to our judgement, is highly unsatisfactory. Mr Sharp should consider the impact his omissions will have on trust in him, the BBC and the public appointments process. 16 Appointment of Richard Sharp as Chair of the BBC
From: Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Eighth Report - Appointment of Richard Sharp as Chair of the BBC (HC 1147), 12 February 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 29 June 2023 (deadline 12 April 2023).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government "notes" the Committee's conclusions on Mr Sharp's appointment and says it will respond further "in due course" to the recommendations in Mr Heppinstall KC's report.
- The government says Mr Heppinstall KC's report outlines that Mr Sharp "failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest" to the interview Panel, and that Mr Sharp has resigned as Chair.
- It is "currently considering" the report's recommendations, which include proposals on the public appointments process in general, and "will respond further in due course".
- An Acting Chair has been appointed in line with the BBC Royal Charter, and "planning for a process to appoint a permanent new Chair is also underway".
- On advice given to Boris Johnson, the government refers to the report's findings that it was "neither commissioned nor obtained until after the appointment process was almost over".