BBC battles to save integrity
No side appears ready to back down in the square off between the BBC and the Government.
More so now if rumours hold true that on Monday BBC chiefs will dismiss the finding of the Foreign Affairs Select Commons inquiry into the Iraq war and the so-called “dodgy dossier.”
The BBC insists its integrity is at stake and it must uphold its honour.
The BBC will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its reporter, Andrew Gilligan, who claimed Alastair Campbell, the PM’s spin supremo, ‘sexed up’ a Government assessment, published in September 2002 on Iraq’s capacity to launch weapons of mass destruction “within 45 minutes.”
The story ran on the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme on 29 May.
Mr Gilligan stressed intelligence services did not wish to stress the fact that Saddam Hussein could launch WMDs within 45 minutes.
The implication: Mr Campbell had worked behind the scenes to ensure the qualification was inserted, a move designed to boost the case for war against Iraq.
This evening, BBC governors and management executives will meet Director-General Greg Dyke at Broadcasting House to discuss how the Corporation will present itself following the publication of the Select Committee (FAC) report tomorrow.
It has been described as “a do or die” stand off with the Government.
Most think Mr Campbell will be let off the hook tomorrow given the paucity of evidence available to the FAC to substantiate the allegations.
But the director of communications is likely to be dragged over the coals over the ‘dodgy dossier,’ published in February of this year.
Mr Campbell demands a public apology from the BBC but given the unwavering support for Mr Gilligan, he is unlikely to get it.
In an interview with the Observer today, the Prime Minister said: “The idea that I or anyone else in my position frankly would start altering intelligence evidence or saying to the intelligence services I am going to insert this, is absurd.”
