Gaza: BBC Coverage

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Excerpts

Tuesday 4th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

First, this incident is clearly very serious and, secondly, we expect that high standard of journalism. It is why the BBC has traditionally been a trusted source of news, both in this country and overseas. That is one of the reasons why this incident is so serious.

While we are talking about journalism in the context of Gaza, the House should also be aware that a considerable number of journalists and media workers have been killed since the war began. So there is a wider context as well, but, on the specifics, it is right that this issue be investigated.

[Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury (LD)]

My Lords, like my noble friend Lord Fowler, I was a journalist, but I worked for an independent production company and made documentaries for the BBC. One was about Osama bin Laden, and I was almost driven to a nervous breakdown by the scrutiny the BBC put the programme under, so I am surprised and saddened by what has occurred. The reputation of the BBC is central. However, picking up on what my noble friend Lord Fowler said, does the Minister not agree that, regardless of today’s discussion, it is vital to shine an ongoing, credible and sustained spotlight on the plight of those in Gaza, particularly the children? Therefore, it is essential that BBC coverage continues.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The unfortunate matter at stake here is that the whole issue of shining a light has been muddied by really unacceptable failures in this instance. Clearly, the BBC has a duty to provide accurate and impartial news and information. The voices of people affected in war zones are particularly powerful, but the public really have a right to be able to trust that BBC content is accurate. In this instance, there have been questions over governance, whether the guidelines are strong enough in the first place and whether the oversight has been sufficient.