Dinner with Boris Johnson was to bat for the BBC, says chairman

BBCchairmanRichard Sharp has said he only went to dinner at Chequers with Boris Johnson to bat on behalf of the broadcaster, as he again denied any conflict of interest.

Mr Sharp said he believed his selection process was conducted by the book following claims that he helped then-prime minister secure a loan facility of up to 800,000.

The chair has been facing calls to stand down after it emerged that in late 2020 he had introduced billionaire Sam Blyth to the cabinet secretary Simon Case to discuss whether the billionaire could act as a guarantor for the credit line.

But Mr Sharp insisted he would remain in place and was confident he had been given the job on merit rather than any favouritism in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday.

On Monday, public appointments commissioner William Shawcross announced he is to investigate Mr Sharps appointment as BBC chair in February 2021 to ensure it was done fairly and on merit.

Asked if he should stand down while the investigation is carried out, Mr Sharp said: No, Im confident that he will determine that I was appointed on merit. Thats obviously for him to conduct that investigation and process.