The New Statesman: politics and culture There’s no “fundamental institutional bias” at the BBC | Lewis Goodall interview
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Nov 13, 2025 
Lewis Goodall, an author and political journalist known for his work on BBC Newsnight, shares fascinating insights on the recent chaos within the BBC following Tim Davie's resignation. He discusses the question of institutional bias, asserting that editorial choices reflect establishment consensus rather than a straightforward left-right divide. Goodall also analyzes the implications of the Panorama Trump edit and stresses the need for the BBC to adapt in today's media landscape. Beyond the BBC, he provides keen commentary on Labour's leadership challenges, urging a bold response to criticism.
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Newsnight Shaped A Career
- Lewis Goodall describes loving his time on Newsnight and how it inspired him into political journalism.
- He recounts feeling watched and targeted by figures like Robbie Gibb during his BBC tenure, which made the job difficult.
Intervention Creates The Problem
- Goodall argues that people like Robbie Gibb genuinely believe they're saving the BBC from liberal groupthink.
- He says their interventionism paradoxically creates the partiality they claim to oppose.
Bias Mirrors The Establishment
- Institutional impartiality is a series of subjective editorial judgements, not a fixed doctrine.
- Goodall says the BBC's bias tends to reflect the current establishment consensus, not a permanent leftward tilt.