Media Confidential The OBR springs a leak! Reporting on a budget shambles story
Nov 27, 2025
This discussion delves into a significant select committee hearing where BBC board members faced hard questions. The hosts also confront claims about censorship in Rutger Bregman's Reith Lecture. With Lionel back from his travels, they tackle media closure concerns following Lord Rothermere's takeover of the Telegraph. They explore the OBR's budget leak, revealing how to responsibly report such incidents, and examine the implications of declining press plurality. The conversation highlights the critical issues of media integrity and governance.
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Select Committee Exposed Genteel Decline
- The BBC hearing revealed weak questioning and a scripted, defensive board response.
- Alan Rusbridger says the session failed to explain why senior executives resigned and exposed governance confusion.
Board Overreach Blurs Governance Lines
- Non-executive board members blurred lines with executive responsibilities.
- Alan Rusbridger argues board interference in editorial and news leadership shows governance failure.
Claims Of Hands-On Editorial Influence
- Alan Rusbridger recounts Lee Harpin's Substack alleging Robbie Gibb intervened editorially at the Jewish Chronicle.
- Rusbridger uses these claims to question Gibb's committee testimony of 'no involvement whatsoever'.
