The BBC has more work to do on tackling antisemitism, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said, as she insisted the broadcaster needs to be an “exemplar” in stopping anti-Jewish hate.
Nandy said she had raised the case of Oscar-winning film producer Lucie Kon, who has alleged that she experienced antisemitism while working for the corporation, with its director-general, Matt Brittin.
However she rejected calls from Conservative MP Rebecca Smith for an independent inquiry into antisemitism at the BBC.
Kon was given a £400,000 payout by the BBC when she left her role earlier this year after claiming she was subject to antisemitism after October 7.
The former commissioning editor alleged colleagues told her Zionists were “evil” in the wake of the attacks. She said she was told she could not oversee a documentary on October 7 because she had “skin in the game”.
She also said she was advised that a documentary about those killed at the Nova music festival needed to “contextualise” Hamas’s assault.
In a previous interview with The Telegraph, Kon said: “The BBC isn’t full of antisemites, but it does have a problem with antisemitism.”
Speaking during culture questions in the Commons, Smith said: “A growing number of Jewish employees at the BBC [are] reporting that they face anti-Jewish racism at work, and revelations about the BBC’s appalling treatment of Jewish Oscar-winning producer Lucie Kon show that they have failed to deal with antisemitism at the heart of the corporation.
“So, does the secretary of state agree that an independent inquiry into antisemitism within the BBC is urgently needed?”
Shadow Culture Secretary Rebecca Paul later said Kon’s situation was a sign of a wider problem with the BBC’s complaints procedure.
She: “Oscar-winning producer Lucie Kon has also shared her experience with the BBC after reporting antisemitic behaviour and has raised concerns about the complaints process.
“In light of these harrowing stories, what discussions is the Culture Secretary having with the BBC as part of charter renewal to ensure we see more effective investigation of serious workplace complaints and a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct going forwards?”
Nandy replied: “She mentions the case of Lucie Kon. This is something that I’ve discussed directly with the director-general of the BBC, and I will be meeting Lucie in the coming weeks to discuss this directly with her.
“There has been an enormous amount of work that the BBC has done on this issue with the Board of Deputies and with other Jewish organisations.
“But I do firmly recognise that there is more to be done, and we want the BBC to be an exemplar of how the Jewish community are treated in this country.
“This government does not believe antisemitism is just a problem for Jewish people to solve. It is a test of the society that we are seeking to build together, and we all have to step up and be counted.”
The BBC has been contacted for comment.
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