Richard Sharp: BBC chairman asks for conflict of interest review

Richard Sharp says the BBC board will review any potential conflicts of interest he may have amid scrutiny over his links with Boris Johnson.

Claims have emerged that the BBC chairman was involved in securing a loan of up to £800,000 for the then-PM.

Mr Sharp said he had not been involved in a loan, a guarantee or arranging any financing.

In a statement, he called the row “a distraction for the organisation, which I regret”.

He said he had never hidden his longstanding relationship with the former PM.

According to The Sunday Times, Mr Sharp was involved in helping to arrange a guarantor on a loan of up to £800,000 for Mr Johnson in late 2020.

Mr Sharp – a former Goldman Sachs banker – was announced as the government’s choice for the new BBC chairman in January 2021.

The government’s choice is ultimately decided by the prime minister, on the advice of the culture secretary, who is in turn advised by a panel.

Mr Sharp told BBC staff in an email on Monday: “I believe firmly that I was appointed on merit, which the Cabinet Office have also confirmed”.

Mr Johnson and the government have rejected suggestions there was any conflict of interest involved.

Mr Sharp said that his personal interests would be reviewed by the BBC Board’s nominations committee “when it next meets”, without giving a timeline.

He also committed to having the findings of the review published “in the interest of transparency”.

The BBC chairman described the scrutiny as a “distraction for the organisation” and told staff “I’m really sorry about it all”.

Mr Sharp confirmed that he introduced Sam Blyth , who he described as an “old friend” and who also happened to be a distant cousin of the then-PM, to Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary.

The Sunday Times identified Mr Blyth as the source of a loan facility worth up to £800,000.

Mr Sharp said Mr Blyth had offered to support Mr Johnson “having become aware of the financial pressures” on him.

The BBC chairman said he was “not involved in making a loan, or arranging a guarantee, and I did not arrange any financing”.

He introduced Mr Blyth to “the relevant official in government” because he [Mr Blyth] “wanted to check with me what the right way to go about this could be”.

Mr Sharp’s statement confirmed he met with Cabinet Secretary Simon Case to discuss Mr Blyth and “reminded” the official that he had applied for the BBC role.

He said: “We both agreed that to avoid any conflict that I should have nothing further to do with the matter.”

The BBC chairman added: “Since that meeting I have had no involvement whatsoever with any process.”

Mr Johnson described claims of any impropriety as “a load of complete nonsense”.

He told Sky News on Monday: “Let me just tell you, Richard Sharp is a good and wise man but he knows absolutely nothing about my personal finances – I can tell you that for 100% ding dang sure.

“This is just another example of the BBC disappearing up its own fundament.”

Rishi Sunak said the BBC appointment process had been “rigorous”.

The prime minister told reporters on Monday: “This appointment was obviously made by one of my predecessors before I became prime minister.

“The appointments process itself for appointing the BBC chairman is a rigorous process, it is independent, there are two stages to it, it is transparent and published online.

“Mr Sharp’s appointment went through that full process.”

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there were “clearly serious questions to answer here” and said “we need to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible”.

Mr Sharp sits on the BBC’s nominations committee alongside four other members, including director-general Tim Davie.

It is unclear when it is due to sit next – BBC rules say it “meets as required to deal with appointment issues”.