Gaza: BBC Coverage

Lord Kennedy of Southwark Excerpts

Tuesday 4th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Foster of Oxton (Con)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

We will hear from my noble friend Lord Katz next, and then the noble Baroness, Lady Foster.

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

My Lords, I am a long-term supporter of the BBC and the impartiality of its news output. While it pains me to agree with the BBC chair, Samir Shah, who just this morning in a Select Committee of the other place called the latest controversy over this documentary a dagger to the heart of BBC impartiality, sadly, noble Lords will understand—and I am sure my noble friend would agree—that this is not the BBC’s first misstep in this area as far as the Jewish community perceives it, especially since 7 October 2023. Does my noble friend agree with Mr Shah and me that a proper independent review of the corporation’s Middle East conflict coverage—not just this documentary but its wider coverage—is essential if it is to retain our confidence and, importantly, the confidence of the Jewish community in this country?