Kaufman demands answers from BBC
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A senior Labour backbencher demanded answers from the BBC yesterday in a letter criticising its "labyrinthine" explanations over the Iraq dossier allegations.
Gerald Kaufman, chairman of the culture, media and sport select committee, wrote to Gavyn Davies, chairman of the BBC, to query a statement on behalf of the corporation's Board of Governors about its conduct over the allegations.
The governors said they had no plans to hold a special meeting following the death of David Kelly and reiterated that it was in the "public interest" to broadcast the disputed stories.
Mr Kaufman accused the BBC of contradiction claiming that the statement contained a series of inconsistencies in describing the source of the story as an "intelligence source".
The letter read: "The way in which the BBC Board of Governors has dealt with the issue of the nature of the information provided by Dr David Kelly to ... Mr Andrew Gilligan has today become even more confusing and labyrinthine.
"...It is essential that you answer with the utmost clarity the questions I put to you..."
Last week, Mr Kaufman had questioned Mr Davies on whether it was appropriate for Governors to take responsibility for the BBC's actions. Highlighting the same point in his letter, he wrote: "That question now needs to be raised more starkly than ever.
"The way this story has been pursued by the BBC and endorsed by the Board of Governors raises the most profound questions about the nature of the BBC as a public-sector, public-service, publicly-funded organisation. Those questions are not going to go away."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments