Corruption? Richard Sharp (left) and Boris Johnson.
I can’t say I do.
Richard Sharp appeared before the Commons’ Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee to explain his involvement in the arrangement of an alleged £800,000 loan for then-prime minister Boris Johnson, right before Johnson appointed him Chairman of the BBC.
According to the BBC News report,
BBC chairman Richard Sharp has denied that he helped arrange a loan for Boris Johnson when he was prime minister.
But the same report states that
Mr Sharp confirmed he had introduced his friend Sam Blyth to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case in late 2020, which was shortly before his appointment at the BBC.
Mr Sharp has previously said Mr Blyth had told him he wanted to provide financial assistance to Mr Johnson after reading about the then-PM’s money troubles in the media.
On Tuesday, Mr Sharp agreed with acting committee chairman Damian Green that he had “acted as a sort of introduction agency” between Mr Blyth and Mr Case.
It’s all a bit murky as to why this was necessary. Sam Blyth is said to be Boris Johnson’s cousin and well-known to him; the claim seems to be that Mr Sharp stepped in to provide a buffer between the two family members in order to bring Mr Blyth to the attention of civil servants.
Mr Sharp also said
“I did not provide and have not provided the former prime minister personal financial advice. I know nothing about his [financial] affairs, I never have done. I didn’t facilitate a loan.”
Really?
1mins in and Richard Sharp, Chairperson of the BBC, has already lied 🤥🤥🤥
Sharp said “I have never given/been asked any financial advice to #BloJo”…BUT internal memos w/in No10 show that advisors said to BJ “to stop asking Sharp for personal financial advice all the time!”😡 https://t.co/fDDQXGv9Bt
— Shosh😎 Woke As Fûck🎏 (@shoshanade) February 7, 2023
If he knew nothing about Johnson’s financial affairs, how did he know Johnson needed a loan?
Boris Johnson was "ding dang sure" that BBC chair Richard Sharp knows nothing about his personal finances.
Here's Richard Sharp admitting he's known since September 2020 about Sam Blyth's intention to help Boris Johnson financially. pic.twitter.com/1ZjjjExrO8
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) February 7, 2023
Nobody seems convinced by all this mummery:
"I did not arrange a loan" for Boris Johnson, says BBC Chairman Richard Sharp, who helped to arrange a loan for Boris Johnson. pic.twitter.com/LscCMHAj3l
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) February 7, 2023
Richard Sharp knew Boris Johnson had financial issues-so of course he knew about the PM's financial affairs-hence the introduction-why did we have a Prime Minister who needed to secure credit via a loan of £800,000 pounds-whether or not he used it something stinks here.
— Barbara (@BarbaraSutton15) February 7, 2023
Richard Sharp (BBC Chair) introduced Sam Blyth (Boris Johnson's cousin) to Simon Case (senior civil servant) after Sam Blyth offered financial support to the Prime Minister-sounds like a broker to me?
— Barbara (@BarbaraSutton15) February 7, 2023
And then there is the fact that this happened while Mr Sharp was applying for the job of BBC Chairman. This has also attracted round criticism:
How can a man with years of experience in the business world like Richard Sharp not realise that there would be a perceived conflict of interest when he applied to be chair of the BBC having been involved in facilitating that huge loan to Johnson. It simply isn‘t credible.
— Livia Augusta (@LiviaAugusta10) February 7, 2023
His evidence suggested that he did realise there would be a perceived conflict of interest; that’s why he said he told both Simon Case and Mr Blyth that he had to step back, after introducing them. But still…
Richard Sharp reveals he went to see Boris Johnson in No10 to discuss the BBC chairmanship before applying.
An opportunity not afforded to others during “open and fair” contest — and another detail not disclosed alongside involvement in talks about Johnson’s finances.
— Gabriel Pogrund (@Gabriel_Pogrund) February 7, 2023
John Nicolson, the SNP MP who hotly grilled Mr Sharp at the committee meeting, had this to say:
After an hour Richard Sharp still doesn’t seem to understand why it was wrong for him to withhold the crucial information that he facilitated a huge loan for Boris Johnson – the man appointing him as BBC Chair. He just doesn’t seem to get it. And yet it’s so basic. @CommonsDCMS
— JOHN NICOLSON M.P. (@MrJohnNicolson) February 7, 2023
In the meeting itself, he went a little further:
“It leaves the impression so much of this is deeply ‘Establishment’; it’s pals appointing pals, donating money to pals.
“It rather leaves the impression that it is all a bit… ‘banana republic’ and cosy.”
Yes it does.
Here’s a video clip of the full confrontation between Mr Nicolson and Mr Sharp:
BBC staff are said to be furious about the shame Mr Sharp has brought down on the organisation.
So here’s the question:
Should he remain as BBC Chair or should he quit?
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