BBC chairman Richard Sharp has resigned over a report that found he breached the code on public appointments.
Sharp said he will stand down at the end of June after reading the findings of an investigation by barrister Adam Heppinstall KC’s into his appointment.
Had Sharp not resigned, prime minister Rishi Sunak would have had to make a final decision on his future.
In a statement, he said: “Mr Heppinstall’s view is that while I did breach the governance code for public appointments, he states that a breach does not necessarily invalidate an appointment.
“Indeed, I have always maintained the breach was inadvertent and not material, which the facts he lays out substantiate. The secretary of state has consulted with the BBC board who support that view.
“Nevertheless, I have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC.
“I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the corporation’s good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term.
“I have therefore this morning resigned as BBC chair to the secretary of state, and to the board.”
Sharp, a former Conservative Party donor, was appointed to the role overseeing the public broadcaster’s independence in 2021.
Extraordinary – current BBC Chair, Richard Sharp tells me during the appointment process he met with the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
AND reveals he told the PM he was going to the Cab Sec to ask how to introduce him to someone who could help the PM financially. 👇 pic.twitter.com/s0XZwaDU5r
— Kevin Brennan MP (@KevinBrennanMP) February 7, 2023However, the ex-Goldman Sachs banker faced calls to resign after it emerged he helped the then-prime minister arrange a loan shortly before he was recommended for the BBC role.
When the allegations emerged, Sharp said he had “simply connected” the pair and there was no conflict of interest, while Johnson’s spokesman said he did not receive financial advice from Sharp.
However, the Commons digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS) committee said Sharp committed errors of judgment by failing to declare his role in the loan to them before they approved his appointment.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Follow HuffPost UK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
