Two former senior BBC employees have called for an independent inquiry into the broadcaster after Oscar-winning producer Lucie Kon’s allegations of ‘antisemitism’ inside the organisation.
Kon’s story went public earlier this week when she announced she had received a settlement of over £400,000 after being made redundant by the BBC.
She had a near three-year battle trying to hold the organisation to account over alleged antisemitism amongst senior colleagues.
Kon claims she was “forced out” of the BBC and said the treatment she endured “ruined my life”.
Phil Craig, a producer at the BBC for over 20 years, said: “You have to wonder now if it's time for a formal EHRC inquiry, Corbyn style, into our old employer. Not to damage it further but to save it from this generation of cowardly managers who have so little instinct for its culture and finest values.”
The Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the UK’s equalities watchdog.
Last weekend, Craig commented on what he said was a bias at the broadcaster against Israel at the Battle of Ideas festival in London.
He said that at one time the organisation had held its reporters to “super high standards” but now it had come under the sway of people with partisan views.
“Of course, news makes mistakes. We all know news coverage, it can be faulted. There are wars, people spin them, both sides spin, and there’s propaganda,” he said, and added: “but all the mistakes in this particular war seem to be in the same direction. Mistakes of hiring people with incredibly partisan views.”
Former documentary maker Malcolm Clark, who worked under Craig, added: “20 years ago when I made science docs for the [BBC] it was a global byword for impartiality. A reputation trashed by managers who refuse to uphold the Corporation's values.”
Former BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw worked at the BBC for over three decades.
He said: “Pains me to say it, but there needs to be an independent inquiry into antisemitism at the BBC. Lucie Kon's allegations... are so serious they can't be brushed aside. Over to you [Culture Secretary] Lisa Nandy.”
A BBC spokesperson told the JC: “Everyone working at the BBC must be able to be themselves and feel comfortable and accepted. Any incidents that occur which suggest this is not the case is a cause for concern and we take extremely seriously.
“As an organisation we are against any form of discrimination, prejudice, or intolerance, in an increasingly polarised world. That is why we launched compulsory training for all staff on antisemitism in December last year, which was created with the support of the Jewish Staff Network, the Antisemitism Policy Trust and the Community Security Trust [CST].
“Antisemitism in any form has no place at the BBC. We want this to be an organisation where expectations on standards and behaviour are clear and where people feel confident in raising issues or concerns with us, if they do occur.”
The culture secretary has been contacted by the JC.
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.