Gaza: BBC Coverage

Lord Katz Excerpts

Tuesday 4th March 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

The right reverend Prelate highlights the point that the Secretary of State herself has asked for clarity on: the BBC policy on translations and how a decision over translation of a particular word or phrase might be made. It is one of many questions we in this House and the public need clear answers on. We are clear that no stone should be left unturned by the BBC, or in its response to those who scrutinise its work.

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

My Lords—

[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?

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

My noble friend makes a really important point. I go back to the point about needing clarity on whether the issues in this instance, and wider issues, are a failure of governance, whether the guidelines are strong enough and rigorously enforced, or whether the oversight itself is an issue.