BBC to review any conflict of interest over chairs role in Boris Johnson loan

The BBC board will look into conflicts of interest involving the appointment of its chairman Richard Sharp amid claims he was helped Boris Johnson secure a 800,000 credit line.

Announcing the review, Mr Sharp said he wanted to ensure all the appropriate guidelines have been followed and has asked the BBC boards nominations committee to review the matter.

Labour is demanding an investigation following a Sunday Times report that Mr Sharp introduced the loan guarantor, multimillionaire Canadian Sam Blyth, to the cabinet secretary Simon Case.

Mr Sharp is said to have had dinner with Mr Johnson and Mr Blyth at Chequers before the credit line was finalised in the weeks before he was recommended for the BBC job by the then-prime minister.

The BBC chairman has denied any conflict of interest. In a statement to the broadcasters employees on Monday, he called the row had become a distraction for the organisation, which I regret.

Rishi Sunaks government has insisted that the appointment of the BBC chairman Richard Sharp was above board. The Cabinet Office rejected claims that there may have been an undeclared conflict of interest.