The government’s independent adviser on antisemitism has accused the BBC of repeatedly rejecting his offers of antisemitism training and has also called for heads to roll over last month’s Gaza documentary which was removed by the corporation.
Lord John Mann told the Sunday Telegraph that BBC bosses that he had visited the offices of the BBC three times since assuming his role in 2019 but bosses had not taken up his offers.
“I’ve offered them training, they’ve never accepted it,” he told the newspaper. “I think there’s often an arrogance there.”
He also claimed there was “ignorance” of antisemitism at the corporation. “They have got, I think, particularly, a generational problem of people who really don’t understand it.”
He added that senior executives at the news corporation should be fired for signing off on the documentary, Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone in February. Shortly after the airing of the documentary it was revealed that the narrator was the child of a Hamas government official, leading to the film being pulled from the broadcaster’s streaming service.
An internal BBC review found “serious flaws” in the making of the documentary.
“Heads should roll,” Mann said referring to the scandal, “and the heads that roll shouldn’t just be the little heads… No, let’s get rid of some at the top, would be my view.”
If there were no firings at the top, he said, he would push the government for a broader public inquiry.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews recently demanded the BBC tackle concerns over its reporting on the Israel-Hamas war and the wellbeing of its Jewish staff. Following Mann’s allegations, a Board spokesperson said: “When we met the BBC just over a week ago we were clear that the current situation is not good enough and needs to change. We have set out areas in need of urgent action and have given the BBC until Passover (12 April) to set out its plans.”
It is understood that the Board of Deputies is waiting to see the BBC’s responses to the list of actions it has called for before deciding next steps.
BBC director-general Tim Davie and (left) chairman Samir Shah face questions earlier this month at the Commons' Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (screenshot: Parliament)[Missing Credit]
In a statement, the BBC said: “As an organisation, the BBC stands united against any form of abuse, prejudice, or intolerance. The welfare of our staff is paramount, and as such we have strengthened the range of training and support available to all of the organisation’s employees and communities in the past 18 months.
“We have well-established and robust processes in place to handle any issues, concerns or complaints raised with us.”
The corporation says it has facilitated training on antisemitism over the past year with a range of staff including programme commissioners, which it plans to roll out more widely.
It has sought feedback on pilot sessions from its Jewish staff network as well as views on training from bodies that include the Board of Deputies.
On the Gaza documentary, the BBC stated, “We take these issues incredibly seriously which is why we have commissioned Peter Johnston [former Controller of BBV Northern Ireland] to lead a full fact-finding review. That work has commenced. It is vital that this work moves quickly, but it must also be thorough and get to the answers we are seeking.”
