Gaza: BBC Coverage

Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee Excerpts

Tuesday 4th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The noble Lord makes the really important point that, when we get these incidents, it can be hugely demoralising for people who are working hard to get that accurate, impartial information. There are two issues. We have to make sure that we understand exactly what went wrong, and the BBC is undertaking a thorough investigation into that. As I mentioned previously, Ofcom and the Secretary of State are very cognisant of the issues and want answers, as I know your Lordships’ House will. But that does not and should not detract, and we need to make sure that we find out the answers and move on, because that accuracy and impartial voice of the BBC in relation to news is critical, not least at this really uncertain time.

[Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee (Non-Afl)]

My Lords, given the very serious allegations of systemic anti-Semitism and bias, does the Minister agree with me that there is a need to look at the BBC’s complaints process? When I have had to use it in a Northern Ireland context, I have found it opaque, vague and overly complicated. Does she accept that there is a need to look at that?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The BBC’s complaints process, in the sense that it is BBC first, is intended to make sure that there is an element of independence from the parts of the organisation that are being investigated. Clearly, if Ofcom has concerns after that happens, that would be looked at. I think the process was set out at the point of the last charter review, and we do not have immediate plans to change that.