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BBC Lord Patten Savile

BBC threatens legal action to prevent MP publishing fresh Savile claims

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By John Glenday, Reporter

December 11, 2013 | 2 min read

The BBC Trust has moved to muffle a Conservative MP who threatened to publish evidence casting doubt on the broadcasters handling of the Jimmy Savile scandal by threatening legal action.

Trust chairman Lord Patten warned Robert Wilson, Conservative MP for Reading East, that any move by him to publish an audio recording which reportedly record the author of the independent inquiry undermining his own findings on tape.

Wilson has vowed to release the recording later today but in a pre-emptive move Patten warned him to be ‘mindful of the legal liabilities that might arise’ should he do so.

In a retort however Wilson accused Patten of ‘Soviet-era behaviour’, saying: “Lord Patten’s threat to a democratically-elected Member of Parliament is almost reminiscent of something from the Soviet-era. It is chilling behaviour from the so-called public “guardian” of this country’s dominant state broadcaster.

“Lord Patten is in danger of showing contempt for the House of Commons and this country’s elected representatives. As an unelected public official in what should be an important job, he is dangerously out of touch.”

An independent inquiry into the scandal was conducted last year by Nick Pollard, former head of Sky News.

BBC Lord Patten Savile

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