BBC chairman facing 'mutiny' as anger erupts at broadcaster in bias row

BBC chairman Richard Sharp is facing mutiny from his own employees after claims emerged that he was involved in arranging a guarantor on a loan of up to £800,000 for Boris Johnson in late 2020.

Sources from inside the BBC say there is “anger” among staff that Sharp was allegedly involved in Johnson’s financial affairs.

The mood at the broadcaster is thought to be “mutinous” as a result of the allegations, according to a newsroom source speaking to The Times.

Richard Sharp allegedly arranged a guarantor on a loan for Boris Johnson
House of Commons

Over the weekend allegations circulated that Sharp had helped secure the personal loan for then-Prime Minister Johnson before being appointed to the top job just weeks later.

Sam Blyth, a multimillionaire who Sharp has described as an "old friend", had offered to be the guarantor on a loan following press reports which revealed that the then-Prime Minister was under financial pressure, according to the BBC.

Sharp says he is confident that he was "appointed on merit" and the selection process was conducted "by the book".

His appointment is now under review by the Commissioner of Public Appointments, but he told the BBC he was "confident" he would be cleared by the watchdog probe.

He said: “Having had a discussion with the Cabinet Secretary about avoiding conflict, and the perception of conflict, I felt comfortable and I still feel there was no conflict, because at that stage what I was seeking to do was ensure that the process was followed exactly by the book and that the process hadn’t started, of any kind, in terms of any support that Sam [Blyth] was going to provide to the prime minister.”

Boris Johnson insists his financial arrangements were 'properly declared'
Jonathan Brady

A spokesperson for Johnson has insisted his financial arrangements "have been properly declared".

Sharp will be quizzed by MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on February 7.