News

BBC leadership under pressure as MPs question senior figures over Trump edit

Published

2 months ago

November 24, 2025

Board divisions exposed after leaked memo and high-profile resignations

THE CRISIS at the BBC deepened on Monday (Nov 24) as senior figures were questioned by MPs over a controversial edit to a Panorama programme on Donald Trump — an incident that has already led to two major resignations and a legal threat from the former US president.

Members of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee spent the afternoon probing the corporation’s handling of the row, which centres on Panorama’s editing of a Trump speech from 6 January 2021. A leaked internal memo later accused the programme of presenting a “misleading” impression — triggering weeks of internal turmoil at the BBC.

Chair admits apology was too slow

BBC chair Samir Shah told MPs he regretted the organisation’s slow response once concerns about the edit became known.

“I think we should have made the decision earlier in May,” he said, adding that the corporation needed to be “quicker” at confronting mistakes. Shah said there were “sharp disagreements” on the board about the programme’s presentation of Trump’s remarks, and he rejected an initial apology drafted by news executives because “it wasn’t sufficient”.

When asked whether the crisis could have been avoided with a faster response, Shah refused to speculate but insisted there was “no pressure” from the board to delay.

Shah also confirmed the BBC will now seek to appoint a deputy director general focused on journalism, arguing that the top job has become “too big for one person”.

Memo author questioned

Michael Prescott — the former external adviser whose leaked memo first raised alarm about the Trump edit — told MPs his document highlighted “incipient problems” within BBC journalism but insisted he does not believe the corporation is “institutionally biased”.

He said his concerns related to how the BBC deals with mistakes, claiming there were “issues of denial” and a lack of willingness to “look into what exactly went wrong”. He added that the edit gave the impression Trump had issued a “call to violent action”.

Prescott said his memo largely quoted assessments by David Grossman, who had been asked to review editorial standards. He denied choosing topics — including Trump, Gaza and trans issues — for ideological reasons.

Robbie Gibb rejects interference claims

Robbie Gibb, a political appointee to the BBC board and former Downing Street communications chief, firmly denied accusations of political interference.

“I have impartiality through my bones,” he told MPs, adding that he has been “weaponised” by critics. Claims of a politically motivated “coup” at the BBC were “ridiculous” and “complete nonsense”, he said.

Gibb acknowledged disagreements on the board, but insisted these were about editorial standards, not party politics.

Governance questions remain

The hearing followed the resignations of director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness, along with the departure last week of board member Shumeet Banerji, who said he was “not consulted” during the crisis.

Shah disputed that, claiming he had held a 26-minute conversation with Banerji. Non-executive director Caroline Thomson told MPs the board “unanimously” supported Shah’s leadership.

The BBC confirmed it is reviewing the powers and scope of its Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee. Every issue raised in Prescott’s memo will now be re-examined, with findings expected to be presented to the board in December.

Crisis far from over

Despite repeated declarations of loyalty to the BBC, committee members noted that the events of recent weeks have exposed deep divisions at the top of the corporation. With a legal threat still in place from Donald Trump and key leadership posts now vacant, MPs warned that the crisis is “not over”.

Crime

Police precept rise agreed for Dyfed-Powys in 2026/27

Published

2 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Council tax policing element to increase by 7.47% — an extra £26.95 a year for the average Band D household

POLICE and Crime Commissioner Dafydd Llywelyn has confirmed the Dyfed-Powys Police precept for 2026/27 following a meeting of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel on Friday (Jan 23).

The precept — the portion of council tax that helps fund local policing — will rise by 7.47%, increasing the average Band D bill by £26.95 a year, or around £2.25 a month.

After several months of scrutiny, the Police and Crime Panel unanimously supported the Commissioner’s proposal. Members of the panel praised the “open and transparent” way the precept process was handled.

The increase will raise a total precept of £93.033m, supporting an overall budget requirement of £161.905m.

In setting the precept, Mr Llywelyn said he had weighed inflation and cost pressures, demand on services, reserve levels, future investment needs, efficiency plans and feedback from residents across the Dyfed-Powys area.

He said the agreed funding would support targeted investment in policing, with a focus on strengthening Local Policing Teams and prevention work.

The Commissioner said funding would support additional neighbourhood officers to increase visible patrols and strengthen local relationships, extra response officers to improve response times, enhanced early intervention work with young people through partnership working with schools, families and youth services, and investment in innovation to improve services to victims and streamline processes so officers can spend more time on frontline duties.

“I recognise the pressure that any increase in the police precept places on households,” Mr Llywelyn said. “However, this decision is about protecting frontline policing and investing in the services that matter most to our communities.

“Residents have been clear that they want to see more officers locally, faster response times and a greater focus on prevention. This investment delivers exactly that.”

He added: “While the financial and operational environment remains challenging, this level of funding provides the stability needed to focus on delivery and on the priorities set out in my Police and Crime Plan.

“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views through the consultation, as well as members of the Police and Crime Panel for their continued scrutiny and support.”

Councillor Keith Evans, vice-chair of the Dyfed-Powys Police and Crime Panel, who chaired the meeting, said: “I am very pleased with the outcome of the precept meeting and want to take the time to thank panel members and the finance sub-group for their diligence in reaching their decision, which has come after many meetings of scrutiny.

“I wish to note the open and transparent manner the Commissioner and his office responded to the sub-group’s request for information. I would also like to express my gratitude to the panel’s secretariat team for their usual cooperation and support.”

Health

Cardigan same-day urgent care to extend weekend hours

Published

4 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

CARDIGAN’S Same Day Urgent Care (SDUC) service will open for longer over the next two weekends as Hywel Dda University Health Board responds to increased demand across the local health system.

The service, based at Cardigan Integrated Care Centre (SA43 1JX), brings together urgent GP-style care, minor injuries and some same-day urgent treatment in one place. It is aimed at people who need urgent help for illnesses or injuries that are not life-threatening, and offers an alternative to attending an emergency department.

The SDUC unit will be open from 9.00am to 5.00pm on:

Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25
Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1

Patients are asked to call 01239 807019 before attending wherever possible, to speak to a triage nurse who can offer advice and, if appropriate, arrange an appointment time.

Hywel Dda stressed that the extended weekend opening is a short-term, temporary measure. Outside the dates listed, the service will continue to operate during its usual weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 8.00am to 6.00pm.

The health board also confirmed that X-ray facilities will not be available during the weekend openings. However, patients are still being encouraged to phone the triage line for guidance before travelling to the site.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We are temporarily extending the opening of the Cardigan Same Day Urgent Care service over the next two weekends to help manage current pressures across our health system.

“If you feel that you, or a loved one, needs to attend, please phone us on 01239 807019 before coming. This helps ensure people receive the right care, in the right place, and at the right time.”

Anyone unsure which service they need can find advice via the health board’s “Help us help you” guidance online, covering services across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.

Crime

Police force mergers could ‘separate communities from policing’, watchdog warns

Published

5 hours ago

January 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

POLICING OVERHAUL COULD CUT 43 FORCES TO FEWER REGIONAL UNITS

MAJOR plans to reorganise policing in England and Wales could be “complex to deliver”, expensive and risk weakening the link between officers and the communities they serve, a national policing body has warned.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to set out the biggest overhaul of policing in decades on Monday, with ministers arguing the current set-up of forty-three separate forces is wasteful and leaves some areas without the capacity to respond to serious incidents.

Under the proposals, the overall number of forces would be reduced, with larger regional forces expected to take the lead on serious and organised crime and complex investigations such as homicide.

At neighbourhood level, each town, city and borough would be organised into a “local policing area”, with officers focused on crimes such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour.

The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) said regional mergers would be time-consuming and costly, and warned the disruption could “derail” the wider ambition of reforms.

PCCs Matthew Scott and Clare Moody said: “The public want neighbourhood policing. There is no evidence to suggest the public would welcome bigger forces and in terms of public accountability, it also risks creating a separation between police forces and the local communities they serve.

“It makes responding to local policing and crime needs more difficult and removes the link between local taxpayers and the police they increasingly directly fund through the policing precept.”

They added that any long-term savings from larger force areas “could be outweighed by very significant set-up costs”, and questioned the assumption that bigger forces automatically perform better.

Government sources have argued that the current model leads to duplication, with forces paying separately for headquarters and administrative functions that could be merged to free up funds for frontline policing.

Ministers also believe restructuring would help reduce differences in performance between forces, with smaller organisations sometimes lacking specialist resources when major incidents occur.

A Government source said the aim was to ensure all forces had the tools and capacity needed to tackle serious crime, adding: “Where you live will no longer determine the outcomes you get from your force.”

The reforms are expected to take years to implement, with reports suggesting force mergers would not be completed until the mid-2030s. The number and boundaries of any new forces are expected to be decided by an independent review.

Similar proposals have been attempted before. In March 2006, then home secretary Charles Clarke announced plans to reduce the number of forces to twenty-four, but the idea was dropped within months after opposition from senior officers and a proposed merger between Lancashire and Cumbria collapsed.

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said there was “no evidence” that larger forces would cut crime or improve performance, warning that a reorganisation could centralise control and leave smaller communities worse off.

The Police Federation of England and Wales said fewer forces did not guarantee stronger neighbourhood policing, but welcomed the Home Secretary’s willingness to consider difficult decisions.

A spokesperson said: “Policing’s current structure has entrenched a postcode lottery in what the public see but also how officers are led, supported and treated.

“Fewer forces doesn’t guarantee more or better policing for communities. Skills, capabilities and equipment need significant investment if the public and officers are going to see reform deliver in the real world.”

Ministers have already announced plans to scrap police and crime commissioners in 2028, with responsibilities expected to move to mayors and council leaders, with the Government saying the change would save at least £100 million to help fund neighbourhood policing.