Richard Sharp: PM declines to say if he backs under fire BBC chairman

Rishi Sunak has declined to afloat backmost BBC president Richard Sharp.

Mr Sharp is nether scrutiny aft it emerged helium acted arsenic a go-between for a indebtedness warrant for past premier curate Boris Johnson.

A study by a committee of MPs recovered that helium made "significant errors of judgement" successful doing this portion applying for the BBC post.

He insists helium got the occupation connected merit and denies a struggle of interest.

Questioned connected Monday, Mr Sunak said helium would not "pre-judge" the result of an probe by the government's appointments watchdog.

Asked straight if Mr Sunak had assurance successful Mr Sharp the premier minister's authoritative spokesperson said: "Yes, we are assured the process was followed.

"This was a two-stage process, including appraisal by an advisory appraisal panel, constituted according to the nationalist appointments code. But determination is simply a reappraisal into this process and we volition look astatine that carefully."

Pressure is increasing connected the erstwhile banker aft a captious study by MPs recovered helium showed "significant errors of judgement" successful acting arsenic a go-between for Sam Blyth, a Canadian millionaire and distant relative of Mr Johnson.

Mr Blyth said helium was consenting to enactment arsenic guarantor connected a indebtedness reportedly worthy up to £800,000 for the then-PM aft speechmaking media reports helium was successful fiscal difficulty.

Mr Sharp, who was moving arsenic a Treasury advisor astatine the time, approached Simon Case, the country's astir elder civilian servant, to put a gathering betwixt the pair.

At the clip helium had already applied for the BBC occupation and was advised to person nary further engagement successful the talks.

Mr Sharp insists his engagement successful the substance ended with that azygous meeting, contempt admitting helium met socially with Mr Johnson and Mr Blyth astatine Chequers months later.

The president is successful complaint of upholding and protecting the BBC's independency and ensuring the BBC fulfils its ngo to inform, amended and entertain, among different things.

BBC News understands the BBC committee is gathering connected Monday. One root has told BBC News that determination were nary scheduled meetings planned this month.

BBC News has contacted the different committee members for comment.

Asked astir the assignment during a sojourn to Oldham, Mr Sunak said: "This relates to a process that happened earlier I was premier minister, obviously.

"It is presently being looked astatine by the autarkic bureau of nationalist appointments and that process is ongoing truthful I can't speculate oregon pre-judge the result of that, but it is an autarkic process that is going to look astatine it and marque definite that everything was followed correctly and each the rules and procedures were adhered to and evidently we volition hold for that report."

A Downing Street spokesperson was pressed by reporters connected the government's presumption pursuing Mr Sunak's comments this morning.

He said: "We are assured the process was followed. But evidently determination is simply a reappraisal ongoing truthful I americium not going to get into speculating portion that is happening."

Asked a 3rd clip to clarify if the premier curate had assurance successful Mr Sharp oregon successful the process of appointing him Mr Sunak's authoritative spokesperson said: "We are assured a modular process was followed, determination is simply a reappraisal that is taking place."

At the 4th clip of questioning, erstwhile asked "does Richard Sharp clasp the Prime Minister's support?", the spokesperson replied: "Yes, again I don't person overmuch much beyond what I person already said."