BBC Debacle

Greg Dyke's statement Director General Greg Dyke has quit as the BBC's crisis deepens in the wake of Lord Hutton's damning verdict. The BBC's new Acting Chairman Lord Ryder also apologised "unreservedly" for errors during the Dr Kelly affair.

Mr Dyke's departure came 20 hours after BBC Chairman Gavyn Davies resigned following the Hutton Report and after the governors spent Thursday morning in crisis talks in London.

An emotional Mr Dyke told BBC staff at their central London headquarters: "I don't want to go. But if in the end you screw up you have to go."

In the wake of his resignation there were spontaneous walkouts at BBC offices in Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Cardiff and Londonderry.

My sole aim has been to defend the BBC's editorial independence and act in the public interest

Staff at BBC Somerset Sound walked out and the station aired a minute of silence in protest.

Mr Dyke told around 1,000 people outside Television Centre he was not "a political animal" but he hoped the two resignations meant "a line can be drawn under this whole episode".

He said his sole aim had been to defend the BBC's independence and "act in the public interest".

Later, asked whether he was sacked by the BBC governors, Mr Dyke said he had offered his resignation on Wednesday night.

Dyke gave an emotional address to the BBC main television newsroom "After that it was up to them," he said.

Mr Dyke said he "could not quite work out" what the governors had apologised for.

The BBC had made certain mistakes, he said, adding: "I do not necessarily accept the findings of Lord Hutton."

The pair quit after parts of Andrew Gilligan's BBC reports of claims Downing Street "sexed up" a dossier on Iraq's illegal weapons were branded "unfounded" by Lord Hutton.

Lord Ryder said: "The BBC must now move forward in the wake of Lord Hutton's report, which highlighted serious defects in the Corporation's processes and procedures.

"On behalf of the BBC I have no hesitation in apologising unreservedly for our errors and to the individuals whose reputations were affected by them."

Prime Minister Tony Blair quickly welcomed the statement, saying it meant both the BBC and the government could move on.

He said: "This for me has always been a very simple matter of an accusation that was a very serious one that was made. It has now been withdrawn, that is all I ever wanted."

Mr Blair said he respected the BBC's independence and expected it to continue to question the government "in a proper way".

The apology was also welcomed by ex-Number 10 media chief Alastair Campbell, who told BBC News 24: "It was right that Gavyn Davies has resigned, it's right that Greg Dyke resigned."

Lord Hutton's report cleared the government of "sexing up" its Iraq weapons dossier with unreliable intelligence.

He criticised "defective" BBC editorial controls over defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan's broadcasts on the Today programme.

INQUIRY BACKGROUND September 2002: Government produces dossier about alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, including claim they could be deployed within 45 minutes May 2003: BBC Today programme's Andrew Gilligan broadcasts report of claims Downing Street "sexed up" dossier, with 45 mins claim included against intelligence agencies' wishes 10 July 2003:Dr David Kelly named as suspected source of report as government continues to deny the story 17 July 2003: Dr Kelly found dead August 2003: Lord Hutton begins six weeks of hearings about the circumstances around Dr Kelly's death

Key points at-a-glance Profile: Mark Byford Profile: Gavyn Davies Leaving after four years in his post, Mr Dyke said his position had been compromised by Lord Hutton's criticisms of BBC management.

Former BBC journalist Martin Bell paid tribute to Mr Dyke: "He revived the confidence of staff, he was an inspirational leader and his departure is a serious blow to public sector broadcasting."

Mr Dyke's deputy, Mark Byford, has been appointed as acting director general until a successor is chosen.

The departure of both the BBC chairman and director general comes amid growing calls for the BBC to come under outside regulation.

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said the Hutton report would be taken into account in the 2006 review of the BBC's charter.

In his resignation statement, Mr Davies said that as the man at the top he had to take responsibility.

But he questioned whether Lord Hutton's "bald conclusions" on the dossier's production could be reconciled with the balance of the inquiry's evidence.

In his long-awaited report, Lord Hutton said he believed Dr Kelly had killed himself after being named as the suspected source of the BBC's controversial weapons dossier story.

In a separate development on Thursday it has emerged Lord Hutton will be grilled by a committee of MPs over the role of inquiries into government.

The retired judge has also ordered an urgent investigation into the leak of his findings to the Sun newspaper.

SelectBBC apologises as Dyke quitsLord Hutton to appear before MPsGilligan 'wants to keep BBC job'Campbell says story row is overGovernors: BBC must move forwardBlair: Apology all I ever wantedKelly family 'blamed ministers'Kelly 'feared evidence of tape'Ex-BBC chief's doubts over reportHutton 'deplores' report leakHoward calls for new Iraq probeWhat the Hutton report didn't sayKennedy calls for fresh inquiryMinisters cleared in Kelly namingBlair's public sector reform vowBrown announces Budget dateFees rebel vows not to give upMP 'failed to declare' TV paymentHutton report: ReactionTrade union 'giant' Scanlon diesPaisley meeting 'constructive'Adams rejects funding claimsThree arrested at cannabis caféPlan for supreme court attackedTory AM backs cannabis therapyWales@Westminster weblogLinks to UK political sitesFind your MPA-Z of ParliamentCabinet guideFull in depth reportFull in depth reportToday in ParliamentBBC ParliamentThe Politics ShowThe Westminster HourQuestion TimeAny QuestionsBreakfast with FrostThe Daily Politics

WATCH AND LISTEN The BBC's Gavin Hewitt "One of the most turbulent days in the BBC's history"

Greg Dyke stands down Greg Dyke's e-mail to BBC staff BBC statements in full Blair: Apology all I ever wanted

'Cut the crap, bring Greg back' Hundreds of BBC staff in spontaneous show of support for Dyke

Tough time Q&A: What next for the BBC? Hutton report at-a-glance Key players guide

RELATED INTERNET LINKS: The Hutton Inquiry The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

2 posted on 01/29/2004 5:33:50 PM PST by ChadGore (Bush 2004 HE'S EARNED IT)

"He said his sole aim had been to defend the BBC's independence and "act in the public interest".

Since when has broadcasting a bunch of BS been in the public interest? I wish we had this level of press accountability in the US.....

3 posted on 01/29/2004 5:41:26 PM PST by yooper (If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there......)

4 posted on 01/29/2004 5:51:49 PM PST by witnesstothefall

Resignation was too good for the lying bastard...

Too bad he couldn't be shot for aiding the enemy..
The BBC has seemed focused on that effort for some time now.

Semper Fi

5 posted on 01/29/2004 5:52:19 PM PST by river rat (Militant Islam is a cult, flirting with extinction)

If they don't cut the funding, it will happen again.

BBC and other news organisations are ran by left over 60's socialists who waqnt to change the world toward their view through propaganda. So much for news.

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