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BBC suspends scheme that put civil servants in its newsroom to fact-check stories on small boats and Covid

BBC suspends scheme that put civil servants in its newsroom to fact-check stories on small boats and Covid

Thirty-nine Whitehall officials from the Home Office, HMRC and other departments have been placed inside BBC News over eight years. Their work appeared under 'BBC Verify' and 'BBC News' bylines with no mention of their government jobs. Current secondees are now barred from publishing work, and recruitment for 2027 is on hold. The BBC insists the statisticians 'never make editorial decisions'.

One official reportedly drafted copy on migration statistics and checked crime claims by nationality.

The 2027 job advert sought the 'ability to influence decision making'.

Tory Mike Wood warned against a 'political agenda' entering BBC coverage 'via the back door'.

MoreThe TimesBBC accused of impartiality breach over use of Whitehall fact-checkersThe TelegraphBBC suspends Civil Service fact-checking scheme - The TelegraphDaily Mail NewsBBC halts civil servant scheme after impartiality row over government staff being sent into the newsroom to write and fact-check articles on Covid and boat migrantsBBC NewsBBC pauses civil service secondment schemeDaily Mail NewsBBC accused of breaching its impartiality rules after using civil servants to write and fact-check articles on Covid and boat migrantsGB NewsBBC accused of breaching impartiality guidelines over civil service secondment in newsroomDaily MailMAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: BBC chiefs need to be taught a lesson on bias
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