LONDON - A deepening crisis over governance and editorial impartiality at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has led to the resignation of board member Shumeet Banerji on Friday, 21 November 2025. In a letter, Mr. Banerji, a tech industry executive, stated he was “not consulted” on the recent, high-profile resignations of Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News Chief Executive Deborah Turness, citing serious “governance issues” at the globally respected public broadcaster.

Mr. Banerji’s departure, first reported by BBC News, intensifies the turmoil that has engulfed the corporation since early November. The crisis was triggered by the leaking of a memo from a former editorial adviser, Michael Prescott, which alleged systemic liberal bias in the BBC’s reporting. The memo specifically criticised the editing of a 2021 speech by U.S. President Donald Trump in a ‘Panorama’ documentary, as well as coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict and transgender rights.

The allegations, published over several days by The Daily Telegraph, led to the abrupt resignations of Mr. Davie and Ms. Turness on Sunday, 9 November 2025. In his resignation statement, Mr. Davie, who had been with the BBC for 20 years, acknowledged that “mistakes have been made” and that he had to take “ultimate responsibility.” Ms. Turness stated the controversy was “causing damage to the BBC.”

Allegations of a Political 'Coup'

Mr. Banerji's resignation is widely seen as a direct criticism of the BBC's Chair, Samir Shah, and the board's handling of the Prescott memo. His departure focuses renewed attention on the role of another board member, Sir Robbie Gibb, a former communications chief for the Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May. Several reports and internal sources have suggested that Sir Robbie, who was appointed to the board by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has been a prominent voice raising concerns about liberal bias within the corporation. This has led to accusations from some BBC staff and politicians of a politically motivated “coup” by right-wing figures to influence the BBC's editorial direction. Mr. Shah has dismissed these claims as “fanciful.”

The controversy has also drawn in Mr. Prescott, the memo's author, who is a managing director at the lobbying firm Hanover Communications, known for its ties to the Conservative Party. It has been reported that Sir Robbie Gibb was instrumental in Mr. Prescott's appointment as an external adviser to the BBC's editorial standards committee.

Global Implications and Relevance for Kenya

The crisis at one of the world's leading public broadcasters has significant implications for media governance and journalistic ethics globally. For audiences in Kenya and across East Africa, who rely on the BBC World Service, including its Swahili service, the turmoil raises questions about the sustainability of impartial public broadcasting in an increasingly polarized world. The BBC's charter-mandated commitment to impartiality underpins its international credibility, a reputation now facing one of its most severe tests.

The events in London highlight the intense pressures public media outlets face from political actors, a challenge familiar to journalists and media houses in Kenya. The struggle to maintain editorial independence while being publicly funded is a central theme of the BBC crisis. The outcome of this leadership turmoil and the subsequent appointments will be closely watched, as it could influence editorial standards and practices for international news coverage, including reporting on East Africa.

The BBC Board is scheduled to appear before the UK Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday, 24 November 2025, where it will face questions about the resignations, editorial standards, and the corporation's governance. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for up to $5 billion over the controversial ‘Panorama’ edit, further escalating the pressure on the broadcaster.

Mr. Banerji's term as a non-executive director was due to end in December 2025. The BBC has stated that the search for his replacement is underway.