BBC director general George Entwistle admits surprise that Newsnight didn't continue with Savile investigation
George Entwistle, director general of the BBC has admitted his surprise that Newsnight did not investigate further the sexual abuse claims uncovered within an axed investigation and described the need to make corrections to Newsnight editor Peter Rippon’s blog accounting for the axing of an investigation as ‘disappointing’.
Questions by Ministers this morning about the conduct of the BBC, questions focused on the decision by Newsnight editor Rippon to drop the investigation, where he said; “I am surprised that nothing more happened with it…there was clearly some good journalistic material here.”
He soon added that he couldn’t speak for Rippon’s state of mind when deciding to axe the programme; “One of the questions that is important for the Pollard report to ask is why was the investigation not allowed to continue.”
Of Rippon’s blog, which yesterday saw the BBC clarify apparent inaccuracies. Entwistle admitted that the corrections were made by both himself and legal advisers.
“I would absolutely have expected the editor of the programme to give a definitive and accurate account of what had taken place on that programme…it must be accurate, it must be honest, and clearly that is not what happened on this occasion and is something that had to be put right,” he said of the decision to make the clarifications.
Rippon has since stood aside, which Entwistle said was a decision made to allow him to prepare to answer the questions he faces as part of the Pollard review in the coming weeks.
Entwistle also admitted that he did not ask the nature of the Newsnight investigation when informed pf it by head of news Helen Borden during a lunch meeting, a statement which was described as showing a lack of curiosity.
“I take full responsibility for all of BBC’s journalism,” stated Entwistle later in highlighting his role as director general of the BBC.
Asked whether the contrasting versions of events between the editorial staff and the editor of Newsnight, alongside the broadcasting of a follow up investigation by Panorama meant that the BBC 'was at war' with itself, he was reluctant to answer, replying; "There is no question in my mind that there was a significant breakdown in communication on Newsnight that the journalists and editor were not reconciled on what had happened."
He also said that of the BBC wouldn't have "had any difficulty whatsoever" in altering the Christmas scheduled tributes to Savile had the Newsnight investigation gone to air and added that he didn't expect the review into the Newsnight decision to take anything under six weeks.