Corporation insists defamation claim has ‘no basis’ after apology over 2021 speech edit

THE BBC has said there is “no basis” for Donald Trump’s threatened multibillion-dollar lawsuit, insisting the disputed Panorama documentary was not broadcast in the United States and caused no reputational harm.

The corporation confirmed it has had “no further contact” from the former US president’s lawyers, despite his renewed pledge to sue for “between one and five billion dollars” over the programme Trump: A Second Chance?, which aired ahead of the 2024 US election.

The controversy centres on a January 6, 2021 speech in which Mr Trump’s remarks were edited in a way that appeared to link his words more directly to the Capitol riots. The BBC apologised last week, calling the splice “an error of judgment” but denying it was malicious or defamatory.

A spokesperson said on Saturday: “We have had no further contact from President Trump’s lawyers at this point. Our position remains the same.”

In an interview with GB News, Mr Trump said he had an “obligation” to sue, claiming: “This was so egregious. If you don’t do it, you don’t stop it from happening again with other people.”

The BBC’s lawyers have set out five key arguments rejecting liability:

• the Panorama episode was not shown on US channels and was geo-restricted to UK viewers on iPlayer;
• Mr Trump suffered no damage, having gone on to win re-election;
• the edit was intended only to shorten a lengthy speech and was not motivated by malice;
• the clip should be viewed in the context of the full hour-long programme; and
• political expression is strongly protected under US defamation law.

The fallout from the broadcast led to the resignations of director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness. Chairman Samir Shah wrote personally to the White House to apologise and confirmed a review of editorial standards is under way.

Mr Davie told staff this week: “We must stand up for our journalism. The BBC is a unique and precious organisation, and I see the free press under pressure. I’m really proud of the work we do locally and globally—it’s utterly precious.”

The Panorama episode will not be re-aired, and the BBC has posted a retraction notice on its website.

Ministers say “failed experiment” will be replaced by councils and mayors

THE government is set to abolish the controversial system of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) across England and Wales, bringing an end to a decade-old experiment in elected policing oversight.

PCCs were introduced by the Conservatives in 2012, replacing police authorities and giving one elected individual responsibility for holding each force to account, setting budgets and priorities, and hiring or firing chief constables. The move was sold as a way to boost transparency and make policing more responsive to local communities.

But the system has long faced criticism, with police chiefs complaining about political interference, low turnout in PCC elections, and inconsistent performance between force areas. Labour ministers have now confirmed the roles will be abolished once the current terms expire.

Announcing the plan, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said PCCs had “failed” to deliver meaningful accountability.
“The introduction of police and crime commissioners by the last government was a failed experiment,” she said. “I will introduce new reforms so police are accountable to their local mayoralties or local councils. The savings will fund more neighbourhood police on the beat across the country, fighting crime and protecting our communities.”

Mahmood added that current PCCs would continue in post until the end of their terms and thanked them for their service. The next PCC elections, due in May 2028, will now be cancelled.

Joint Statement from the Police and Crime Commissioners for Wales

A statement was issued jointly by the Police and Crime Commissioners for Wales on Thursday afternoon: “The announcement that the role of Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) is to be abolished represents a significant moment for policing governance in Wales and across England.

As PCCs, we and our offices perform vital functions that make a real and tangible difference to the lives of thousands of people, from commissioning critical services for victims and survivors, to holding our police forces to account, shaping local priorities, and representing the voices of our communities. This important work will continue throughout any transition period.

While the detail of future governance arrangements has yet to be determined, it has been clear for some time that reform of the policing landscape has been high on the Government’s agenda. Both former and current Home Secretaries have indicated an intention to review and reshape local policing oversight. As this process unfolds, our focus remains on ensuring that accountability, transparency and public service remain at the heart of any new model.

We believe it is essential that the next phase delivers stability, continuity and confidence, for the public, for victims, for policing partners and for the workforce. The transition must not divert attention from what matters most: keeping people safe, supporting victims, and building public trust in policing.

As the future roadmap is developed, we stand ready to contribute our knowledge, experience and insight to help shape the next oversight model. We urge the UK Government, Welsh Government and the Home Office to work collaboratively with us and to consult widely across Wales to ensure that any new arrangements reflect Welsh priorities and maintain the highest standards of accountability and service.

Ultimately, any future system must serve the best interests of policing and the public, safeguarding local accountability while supporting effective, community-focused policing. We welcome the Government’s stated commitment to ensuring that public confidence remains central to policing oversight, and we are committed to engaging constructively to achieve that goal.

The role of PCC may change, but our dedication to the people of Wales and our Force areas remains unwavering. We will continue to champion victims, uphold public confidence, and work tirelessly to ensure that policing in Wales remains responsive, fair and effective through this period of transition and beyond.”

Responding to the news that Police and Crime Commissioners have been abolished, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster Spokesperson David Chadwick MP said: “After years of calling for Police and Crime Commissioners to be scrapped, this is a huge Liberal Democrat win.

“The Government must now ensure that the resources wasted on these costly PCCs go into what really matters – improving frontline policing and properly staffing community policing and rural crime teams.”

What happens next

A confidential briefing seen by The Herald states that in areas with an elected mayor — such as Greater Manchester and the West Midlands — those mayoralties will take over PCC responsibilities.
In areas without a mayor, including every police force in Wales, local councils are expected to take on the role via new policing and crime boards. Full details are expected to be announced shortly, including how much money the government believes will be saved and how those savings will be reinvested.

Background: A troubled model from the start

Turnout in the first PCC elections in 2012 averaged just 15%, one of the lowest recorded in any modern UK election. Subsequent contests rarely climbed above 30%.

Several PCCs faced controversy during their terms, including allegations of overreach, resignations, and costly by-elections. Critics said the role created too much power in the hands of one individual, while supporters argued the model brought clearer accountability than the old police authority committees.

For years, independent reviews and parliamentary committees raised concerns about the system’s effectiveness, but no government acted until now.

What it means for Wales

Policing is controlled by Westminster, but PCCs cover the four Welsh police forces: Dyfed-Powys, South Wales, Gwent and North Wales. Wales does not currently have regional mayors with policing powers, meaning new local oversight structures will need to be created.

The move will therefore be one of the most significant changes to policing governance in Wales since devolution.

Who is the current Dyfed-Powys PCC?

The PCC for Dyfed-Powys — covering Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys — is Dafydd Llywelyn, first elected in 2016 and representing Plaid Cymru. He will remain in office until the government formally dissolves the role.

Virginia Giuffre’s memoir reignites scandal as Duke agrees to drop royal titles

PRINCE ANDREW allegedly required Virginia Giuffre to sign a one-year gag order as part of their 2022 settlement, to prevent damaging Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations, according to claims in her forthcoming memoir.

The revelations come just a day after Andrew announced he would no longer use his royal titles or honours, in what Buckingham Palace sources described as a final attempt by King Charles and the Prince of Wales to draw a line under the long-running scandal. The timing is notable, as the King is preparing to visit the Vatican next week and is said to be keen to put the embarrassment surrounding his brother firmly behind him.

Jubilee deal

Giuffre’s book, Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice, claims the gag clause was crucial to ensuring the jubilee – marking the late Queen’s 70 years on the throne – was not overshadowed by renewed focus on her son’s association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The civil case was settled just nine days after the Queen reached the milestone of her accession in 2022. A US judge had previously ruled the case could go ahead, prompting the monarch to strip Andrew of his honorary military roles, while he ceased using the style “His Royal Highness”.

The settlement

Court filings later confirmed that Andrew and Giuffre reached a “settlement in principle”, including a substantial donation to her charity supporting abuse victims. The prince pledged to show regret for his friendship with Epstein by backing anti-trafficking initiatives, though he continued to deny meeting Giuffre or committing any form of sexual assault.

In her book, Giuffre describes how Andrew’s disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview was “an injection of jet fuel” for her legal team, suggesting it strengthened their hand during negotiations. The televised exchange, intended to clear his name, instead intensified public outrage after he claimed he could not have met Giuffre on the night she alleged they had sex because he was at Pizza Express in Woking with his daughter, Princess Beatrice.

Public backlash

Attempts by the Duke to re-emerge into public life after the settlement were met with widespread criticism. His prominent role at Prince Philip’s memorial service in March 2022 drew condemnation, and he missed the jubilee thanksgiving service after announcing he had tested positive for Covid.

Giuffre, who died by suicide in April this year, wrote that she agreed to remain silent for a year because “it seemed important to the prince that his mother’s platinum jubilee would not be tarnished any more than it already had been.”

Stepping back

In a statement on Friday (Oct 17), Andrew said: “The continued accusations about me distract from the work of His Majesty and the royal family. I am putting my family and country first and will no longer use my title or the honours which have been conferred upon me.”

Giuffre’s memoir, due to be published on Tuesday, is expected to renew public scrutiny of the Duke of York’s conduct and the royal family’s handling of a scandal that continues to cast a shadow over the monarchy, even as the King seeks to refocus attention on his duties abroad.