BBC chair Richard Sharp asks for review of potential conflicts of interest

The BBC chair, Richard Sharp, has asked the BBC board to review any potential conflicts of interest over his role, amid allegations he helped Boris Johnson secure a loan of up to 800,000 weeks before he was recommended for the job by the then prime minister.

Sharp, who has in the past donated hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Conservative party, is coming under increased pressure over the affair, with the Labour party calling for an investigation into his part in talks financing Johnson when he found himself in financial difficulty in late 2020.

I was not involved in making a loan, or arranging a guarantee, and I did not arrange any financing, said Sharp, in an internal email to BBC staff on Monday. We have many challenges at the BBC, and I know that distractions such as this are not welcomed. Our work at the BBC is rooted in trust. Although the appointment of the BBC chair is solely a matter for the government, I want to ensure that all appropriate guidelines have been followed within the BBC since I have joined.