{"id":41303,"date":"2013-09-02T13:58:45","date_gmt":"2013-09-02T12:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/?p=41303"},"modified":"2013-09-02T13:58:45","modified_gmt":"2013-09-02T13:58:45","slug":"the-cronyism-of-the-bbc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vuelio.com\/uk\/blog\/the-cronyism-of-the-bbc\/","title":{"rendered":"BBC or Blairite Broadcasting Corporation?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Photo

Photo Courtesy: Tim Loudon<\/p><\/div>\n

The BBC\u2019s decision to hire Godric Smith, the government\u2019s former spin chief, to help rebuild its damaged reputation amid the Jimmy Savile child-abuse scandal, seems to have backfired. The news reported first by The Sunday Times<\/a> on 1 September, has sparked fresh public scrutiny and has all the ingredients for a diplomatic debate.<\/p>\n

The broadcasting giant has been accused of \u2018cronyism\u2019 for hiring Smith, who served as Tony Blair\u2019s official spokesperson between 2001 and 2004, and as director of government comms for London 2012. The move has received more flak for the direct involvement of former Labour MP James Purnell, now with the BBC, who is reported to be behind the \u00a3100,000 contract offered to Smith.<\/p>\n

According to The Sunday Times: ‘The appointment is likely to raise questions about cronyism at the corporation. Informed sources said Incorporated London, the public relations agency co-founded by Smith in April, was hired without a formal tender, sparking an internal row about which department should pay his fee.\u2019

<\/em>The BBC\u2019s move is reportedly the latest in a number of appointments that bears links to the government, raising concerns over ‘reignited’ ties with the Left.\u00a0The Daily Mail<\/a> stated: \u2018The BBC was accused of \u201cstuffing its senior ranks with ex-Blairites\u201d yesterday after it hired one of the former prime minister\u2019s spin chiefs as a key PR adviser.\u2019\u00a0The article further stated: ‘The latest appointment reignited concerns over the corporation\u2019s links with the Left leaving it open to charges of political \u2018cronyism\u2019 and prompting one Tory MP to brand the BBC the \u2018Blairite Broadcasting Corporation.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

The \u00a0skepticism on BBC’s decision to hire Smith has spread on to Twitter as well. Here are some key responses that captures the general sentiment:<\/p>\n

Arun Sudhaman, journalist :\u00a0
<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Arun Sudhaman (@ArunSudhaman) September 2, 201<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

David Singleton, news editor:\n<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2014 David Singleton (@david_singleton) September 1, 2013<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n