LONDON, UK – BBC Chairman Richard Sharp announced his resignation on Friday, April 28, 2023, after an inquiry revealed that he breached rules by failing to declare his involvement in arranging a loan for then Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The controversy surrounding Sharp’s appointment to one of Britain’s most high-profile roles had intensified pressure on Johnson’s successor, Rishi Sunak.
Last week, Sunak lost his Deputy Prime Minister, Dominic Raab, who was forced to resign after another inquiry found him guilty of bullying civil servants.
Sharp, a wealthy past donor to the ruling Conservatives, was formerly Sunak’s boss at investment bank Goldman Sachs. The UK monarch appoints the chairman of the British Broadcasting Corporation on the advice of the government.
Sharp’s appointment by Johnson was criticised at the time as cronyism, with the government accused of being eager to rein in perceived critical reporting by the BBC.
The inquiry by senior lawyer Adam Heppinstall discovered that Sharp “failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest” to a committee of MPs vetting his appointment by Johnson in early 2021.
Heppinstall’s report stated, “There is a risk of a perception that Mr. Sharp was recommended for appointment because he assisted… the former prime minister in a private financial matter.”
In February, the same committee of MPs accused Sharp of “significant errors of judgement” for not disclosing his involvement in the loan.
In late 2020, while being considered for the BBC position, Sharp connected Johnson with a distant cousin who extended a credit facility of £800,000 ($1 million) to the prime minister.
Sharp denied receiving the job as a quid pro quo for assisting Johnson but announced his resignation shortly after Heppinstall presented his report to Sunak’s government.
Sharp acknowledged breaching conflict-of-interest rules for top UK officials but claimed it was “inadvertent and not material” to his appointment at the BBC.
In a statement, he said, “Nevertheless, I have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC.”
Sharp confirmed he would step down at the end of June to allow time for a new chair to be found, adding, “I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the corporation’s good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term.”
