On Monday 24 May, John was in the chamber in his role as minister at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to answer an Urgent Question submitted by the Chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, Julian Knight, about the outcome of the independent inquiry conducted by Lord Dyson into Martin Bashir and his 1995 BBC interview with Princess Diana.
To watch John’s response to Mr Knight, click here. For the the whole of John’s appearance and his replies to questions from MPs across the House, please click here.
Due to the public interest in the investigation and the reaction to its outcome, there was much media coverage of John’s appearance in the Commons.
Find below some of the national coverage of John’s response.
BBC: BBC to review editorial policies and Martin Bashir hiring
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57229049
The Times: BBC ‘badly tarnished’ by cover-up over Martin Bashir’s Diana interview
Daily Mail: The BBC’s reputation has been ‘tarnished’ by Martin Bashir’s Diana interview subterfuge, warns media minister as corporation announces review and top MP says journalist’s actions had ‘a whiff of criminality’
Evening Standard: BBC’s reputation badly tarnished by Panorama scandal, says culture minister
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/bbc-john-whittingdale-martin-bashir-dyson-princess-b936965.html
Guardian: MPs take advantage of the BBC talking about the BBC to talk about the BBC
Daily Telegraph: ‘I’ve ripped up my TV licence!’ How the Martin Bashir scandal united MPs in disgust
Financial Times: BBC to investigate broadcaster’s culture and editorial practices
https://www.ft.com/content/a99a95a2-d08f-45c1-acf8-4fc2a508cfdb
