Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC 20240703

To achieving due impartiality in all its output. And in an age of social media, where anyone working for the bbc can easily broadcast their own personal, sometimes political, views to the world, this committment has sometimes come under strain. Not least when, in march this year, the bbc� s highest paid, and One Of The Best known presenters, former footballer gary lineker, in a series of tweets, called the governments stance on illegal immigration an immeasurably cruel policy directed at the most Vulnerable People in language that is not dissimilar to that used by germany in the 30s. He was referring to a video put up by Home Secretary Suella Braverman in which she unveiled plans to stop migrant boats crossing the channel into the uk. That single tweet sparked a nationwide debate about impartiality at the bbc and led to mr lineker being taken off air and then reinstated on Match Of The Day, the longest Running Football Show in the world, which he presentes in a freelance capacity, as this review of social media guidelines was undertaken. And gary lineker has already responded, hes reacted on the social media platform x, formerly known as twitter. Hes posted, all very sensible. So lets go through the findings with helena wilkinson. You mentioned where we are today because of the tweet that gary lineker put out earlier this year criticising the government two asylum policy. He is very vocal on x, formerly known as twitter, about politics. He tweets regularly. But after that incident he was temporarily suspended and what followed was him going back to present Match Of The Day, but the Director General of the bbc tim davie commissioned a report which specifically looked at freelance on air presenters. And we have had the details of this new updated guidance which is looking specifically at what freelancers who are on air, particularly high profile presenters, can and cant do. That is all around impartiality. The new rules that have been published include Flagship Programmes, including Match Of The Day, which gary lineker presents, and also the apprentice, with alan sugar. The bb says that there is a particular responsibility of those high profile presenters on Flagship Programmes because of their profile on the bbc. The new guidance recognises the Freedom Of Expression but while a programme, one of those high profile Flagship Programmes, is now and two weeks windows before and after it is now, presenters must not endorse or attack a Political Party or criticise the character of individual politicians in the uk or comment on any issue of political debate during an election period or take up an official role for campaigning groups. At what they can do, high profile presenters outside ofjournalism, not in the news like uri, we have to do strictly abide by the impartiality rules on social media, but those outside of journalism should be able to express views on issues and policies, including matters of political contention. And in the last half an hour, Culture Editor has spoken to the former tv executive john hardy, who was commissioned to carry out this report. I who was commissioned to carry out this report this report. I think the previous rule is said this report. I think the previous rule is said to this report. I think the previous rule is said to not this report. I think the previous rule is said to not take this report. I think the previous rule is said to not take sides i this report. I think the Previousj Rule is said to not take sides on Political Rule Is said to not take sides on political controversies and this new approach political controversies and this new approach says you can do that, so lon approach says you can do that, so long as approach says you can do that, so long as you approach says you can do that, so long as you stick to the fact of the issue long as you stick to the fact of the issue itself. So that actually is a significant issue itself. So that actually is a significant change. Issue itself. So that actually is a significant change. Helen is on the newsroom still significant change. Helen is on the newsroom still but significant change. Helen is on the newsroom still but i significant change. Helen is on the newsroom still but i will significant change. Helen is on the newsroom still but i will bring significant change. Helen is on the newsroom still but i will bring in l newsroom still but i will bring in the former editor of policy at the bbc and now chair of the press regulator who has guidelines. You have been through them. What do you make of them . Make of them . Well, they are more comprehensive make of them . Well, they are more comprehensive than make of them . Well, they are more comprehensive than they make of them . Well, they are more comprehensive than they were make of them . Well, they are more i comprehensive than they were before. Basically, there is no change for people like you, people who work in news and current affairs, factual journalism at the bbc. You werent able to say anything in your social media about matters of contentious Public Policy and political issues and you are still not able to. If you are an actor or a comedian completely outside factual programming, there were never any constraints on what you could say on social media and there still arent. But now there is a new category which is sort of existed informally before because up until today the bbc identify half a dozen quebec may be ten or 12 key talent, as they call it, because the rest of you are not really talented, just rounds but key talent who had responsibility to exercise discretion you are just drones. That is now changing. There is no longer going to be about identifying key talent but key programmes, Flagship Programmes. The bbc yesterday after the last minute, because i asked them yesterday evening to give them a list of their Flagship Programmes and they were still working on it, they published a list today a list of about 20 programmes, mostly on television, but some on radio, where they regard these programmes as being so high profile, Whatjohn Hardy in his report cold them the ming vases of the bbc, so high profile that what those present to say in the public risk. ,. , those present to say in the public risk. , ~ , risk. One of those ming vases is match of the risk. One of those ming vases is Match Of The Day, risk. One of those ming vases is Match Of The Day, the risk. One of those ming vases is Match Of The Day, the longest Match Of The Day, the longest running Football Programme in the world, and its star gary lineker who was already responded, saying it is all very sensible. When gary lineker is on airfor a very long all very sensible. When gary lineker is on air for a very long football season, presenting much of the day, what is he allowed to tweet . Aha, season, presenting much of the day, what is he allowed to tweet . What is he allowed to tweet . A good auestion what is he allowed to tweet . A good question and what is he allowed to tweet . A good question and my what is he allowed to tweet . A good question and my heart what is he allowed to tweet . A good question and my heart goes what is he allowed to tweet . A good question and my heart goes out what is he allowed to tweet . A good question and my heart goes out to i question and my heart goes out to those who are to write these guidelines and who have to interpret them, because they are always capable of interpretation. It is a treat capable of interpretation. It is a great area capable of interpretation. It is a great area that capable of interpretation. It is a great area that are capable of interpretation. It is a great area that are always capable of interpretation. It is a l great area that are always tricky. 0f great area that are always tricky. Of course, sometimes it is deliberate, im not sure if it is in this case, but there are a lot of grey areas in my view. The fact that gary lineker is welcome these guidelines tells you quite a lot about what gary thinks about them. I think that he must believe that they empower him to say pretty much what he has already said. In other words, when he said six months ago in criticising Government Policy that the language used by the government was reminiscent of that in germany in the 19305, i dont see anything in the 19305, i dont see anything in the 19305, i dont see anything in the new guidelines which. Them sa in in the new guidelines which. Them saying that in the new guidelines which. Them saying that so in the new guidelines which. Them saying that. So that in the new guidelines which. Them saying that. So that tweet in the new guidelines which. Them saying that. So that tweet would have passed in your view . I think that would have passed in your view . I think that would now have passed in your view . I think that would now be have passed in your view . I think that would now be acceptable have passed in your view . I think that would now be acceptable to | have passed in your view . I think i that would now be acceptable to the bbc because the only rules applying to the high profile folk like gary from today r, dont endorse or attack a Political Party. He wasnt attacking a party, he was attacking attacking a party, he was attacking a policy of the government. I think he would argue he is perfectly entitled to criticise Suella Braverman5 immigration policy. Dont criticise that character of individual politicians. He said in one of his tweet he was better on the Playing Field than she was at the Playing Field than she was at the dispatch box. That is criticism. It is not really an attack, is it . What does an attack mean . Wa5 it is not really an attack, is it . What does an attack mean . Was it an attack on a character . No, surely on her performance at the ballot box. So lawyer5 will be able to have fun with these guidelines. I suspect gary will feel able to continue to say this sort of things he said before. ,. Say this sort of things he said before. ,. ,. , before. People will say it is a win for gary lineker. Before. People will say it is a win for gary lineker. I before. People will say it is a win for gary lineker. I think it for gary lineker. I think it probably for gary lineker. I think it probably is for gary lineker. I think it probably is but for gary lineker. I think it probably is but it for gary lineker. I think it probably is but it doesntl for gary lineker. I think it probably is but it doesnt mean it is wrong of their bbc because it is a recognition by the bbc that the people who work for it do have lives of their own in the media in which you work today, everybody expresses their feelings on social media and their feelings on social media and their test must be, what is certain minimum constraint on freedom of speech which the bbc mu5t require people like you to exercise . This speech which the bbc must require people like you to exercise . People like you to exercise . This is a bit granular people like you to exercise . This is a bit granular what people like you to exercise . This is a bit granular what im people like you to exercise . This is a bit granular what im going people like you to exercise . This is a bit granular what im going to a bit granular what im going to share, i will come back to you, because i want everyone to understand what the guidelines say about due impartiality. You may have heard this phrase before and we just wanted to explain it. According to the bbc website, it means adequate and appropriate to the output and the views should be in line with the nature of the programme. According to the bbc. They must be based on reasonable scrutiny and not personal opinions. How much more difficult is it in the environment at the moment, impartiality, when Research Shows viewers want personages to be not anodyne or boring . Jahh viewers want personages to be not anodyne or boring . Anodyne or boring . John hardy conducted anodyne or boring . John hardy conducted a anodyne or boring . John hardy conducted a lot anodyne or boring . John hardy conducted a lot of anodyne or boring . John hardy conducted a lot of research anodyne or boring . John hardy conducted a lot of Research Among members of the public as well as other groups, and none of it established that people who watch Match Of The Day were deterred from watching Match Of The Day because they disagreed with gary lineker� s position on immigration policy. I dont think there is any clear link between what some of these people say and what audiences choose to watch and listen to. But it is getting more difficult, of course, and in the year ahead is to run up towards the general election, the5e towards the general election, these will be contentious matter5 towards the general election, these will be contentious matters and i can tell you, tomorrow morning much of the right wing pre55 will say this is gary lineker victory, a climb down for the bbc. I dont take it as a climb down for the bbc, but it as a climb down for the bbc, but it is a victory for gary. Can it as a climbdown for the bbc, but it is a victory for gary. It is a victory for gary. Can i also ask ou it is a victory for gary. Can i also ask you about. It is a victory for gary. Can i also ask you about. I it is a victory for gary. Can i also ask you about. I often it is a victory for gary. Can i also ask you about. I often find it is a victory for gary. Can i also ask you about. I often find it i ask you about. I often find it very confusing the way the bbc report on itself. How important it i55ue report on itself. How important it issue of impartiality and how the bbc is seen internationally . Viewers around the world, bbc is seen internationally . Viewers around the world, bbc bbc is seen internationally . Viewers around the world, bbc is bbc is seen internationally . Viewers around the world, bbc is obsessive i around the world, bbc is ob5e55ive about reporting its own affairs and there is one good reason, it is terrified that other people will be more critical of the bbc than the bbc is in itself. So it is quite right that the bbc should be self critical, if not quite obsessed about these arcane guidelines. No other part of that world has quite the same history of an impartial National Broadcaster like the uk and the bbc, and most of the world find it extraordinary that we have an impartial National Broadcaster, because most National Broadcaster5 come even close countries in europe, dont have an obligation to be impartial and often they are openly parti5an. There is still overwhelming public support for the id that the bbc mu5t overwhelming public support for the id that the bbc must remain impartial. It id that the bbc must remain impartial id that the bbc must remain imartial. ,. ,. , i. Impartial. It is great to get your voice. I want impartial. It is great to get your voice. I want to impartial. It is great to get your voice. I want to direct impartial. It is great to get your voice. I want to direct people i impartial. It is great to get your voice. I want to direct people to our website because we have a live page p our website because we have a live page up and running, taking you through all of the issues around this. Gary lineker� s re5pon5e through all of the issues around this. Gary lineker� s response as well. And itn boss this. Gary lineker� s response as well. And Itn Bo55john Hardy who wrote the report is also said that very few of the many people he spoke to considered this issue to be solvable by a simple answer. It shows you the complexity of the issue and we are covering all of those events for you on the website. You log on. This is bbc news. Lets look at some other stories making news. Millions of people may wrongly believe theyre allergic to the common antibiotic penicillin, according to the Royal Pharmaceutical society. It says that despite four Million People recording an allergy 90 are clear when tested. It suggests people confuse antibiotic side effects such thi5 a5 nausea and diarrhoea with a reaction. The National Grid says the risk of blackouts is much lower this winter than it was last year. It says its due to increased generation and managing demand, although its still planning to offer incentives to households to use less electricity at peak times. The Budget Airline ryanair says its been forced to cut its winter flight schedule because of delays in the delivery of new planes. It says Production Issues in the us have meant only 1a of the 27 planes ordered are likely to arrive on time. Youre live with bbc news. Lets go to the crisis unfolding in a region disputed by both armenia and azerbaijan. The separatist leader of Nagorno Karabakh has formally ended the territorys struggle for independence. Samvel shakhramanyan issued a decree saying that at the end of the year, the self declared republic would cease to exist. More than half the Ethnic Armenian population has fled since azerbaijan seized control of the region just over a week ago. The exodus of Ethnic Armenians surpa55ed 65,000 on wednesday. Many have ended up in the Armenian Border town of gori5, from where our correspondent Sarah Rain5ford updated me earlier. There are huge crowds here in the centre of gori5 this morning, lots and lots of people. Tens of thousands have now left Nagorno Karabakh and are heading here to armenia. And in border towns like this, there is now a massive aid effort under way. It is notjust the government that is helping out, there is also local businesses bringing donations and local people who are offering rooms and houses for people to stay in. We have seen people arriving here with cars packed full of belongings. There was one this morning that had chickens, a cage of chickens strapped to the roof and a bicycle, a childs bike on top of that. People are bringing everything they can carry, but of course it is not very much, and so their needs are pretty huge as they arrive here. And there are groups of families, large families, lots and lots of children just sitting around on the grass or in some shade here, getting food, getting some help, but really, their future now is pretty uncertain. They dont quite know where they go from here, but what they do know now is that they wont be going back. In fact, there has been a formal statement by the separatist authorities in Nagorno Karabakh, that region that has never been internationally recognised, they have now said that formerly speaking, all State Institutions there will be dissolved by the end of this year, and that the republic of artsakh, a5 armenians call it, will cease to exist. People i have been speaking to here have been very saddened by that, but also they are angry. They say they have been abandoned by the armenian government, that they were abandoned, and this was inevitable. They have called it a tragedy because so many people here have actually fought over the years for the right to be in control of that 5liver of territory in the mountains, and now they have had to abandon that of independence. Very busy pre55 there is, many thousands of people trying to cross the border. 0lga Iv5hina Reports from the azerbaijan capital, baku. It is slowly getting to the half, but it is still not half of the population of Nagorno Karabakh. And of course as the situation develops the question remains, what is the Current Situation on the ground, what is going to happen in the next few days . From what i hear, from residents, the situation remains critical. The help they are getting is not enough. The azeri side says they have sent at least six humanitarian convoy5 and they are ready to deliver more. However, the Karabakh Armenians refused to accept this help, at least directly. But overall it seems the volume of humanitarian effort which reaches Nagorno Karabakh is definitely not enough for the amount of people who are currently trapped there. Just to remind you, all those people are exhausted both physically and mentally because of the nine months de facto blockade. Because the only road that connects Nagorno Karabakh to armenia is currently controlled by the azeri forces, because all of that territory of Nagorno Karabakh is recognised by International Law as the territory of azerbaijan, and azerbaijan has militarily an upper hand now. The biggest question now is, what is happening in those small villages around . What is the situation there . Armenians are afraid that all those people counted now as missing might have died during the recent hostilities. The azeri side denies any accusations of wrongdoing. They say they have targeted only military targets but before there is any International Independent assessment of the situation on the ground, those questions will remain. A Special Bbc Investigation has found that uk Police Officers are widely mi5u5ing their Body Worn Cameras by switching them off when force is used, and deleting or not disclosing footage. The National Police Chiefs Council said the majority of body worn video highlights good policing. 0ur investigations correspondent Noel Titheradge has the story. Chant black lives matter, all lives matter three years ago, a black lives matter protest gathered outside downing street, attended by yufial on the left, and his sister louisa on the right. The protest was initially peaceful. There was dancing. There were speeches. Two hours in and that peace was broken. A clash quickly escalated, leading to louisas restraint. Shouting. I completely blacked out. I couldnt breathe. Shouting. Get your arm out, now i was telling the officer, like, help me get my hand. And he continued to rub my face in the ground and kneel on me. You do not leave your arm out, or ill inflict pain, 0k . The siblings were arrested and charged, accused of assaulting an officer in yufial� s case and being threatening or abusive in louisas. Now bbc analysis of multiple body worn videos shown for the first time reveals the force used on the siblings themselves. I was punched in the face. My sister was pushed and then we got charged with assault even though we were assaulted. Weve examined how the incidents unfolded in little over a minute across multiple cameras. Watch here as louisa is pushed backwards by an officers right hand on her neck and left hand on her chest. Just five seconds later, in the far left corner of the screen, a different Body Worn Camera shows yufial being struck by an officer, who was then pulled backwards by colleagues. Moments later, and having removed herself from the front of the protest to search for her car keys, louisa is restrained by a group of officers. Screaming. Pain compliance, 0k . You do not leave your arm out or ill inflict pain, 0k . Get your arm out i literally thought i was going to die. Youre 0k. I blacked out. Ive got your head. 0k~ despite what they experienced, and the charges they were facing, body worn video revealing officers use of force wasnt initially disclosed to either of them as part of their cases. It was very weird because the evidence that benefited me was put in his case and the evidence that was benefiting him was put in my case. Without us getting the evidence from each of our cases, we probably wouldnt be in the situation that were in right now. Leave your arm out. Its terrifying. This is really worrying and shocking. And i think the fact that its taken two and a half years for anybody to get to the bottom of whats happened means its ruined their lives. Baroness caseys review into the met found that the force lacks accountability and transparency. I think the way many Police Officers consider body worn video is that its almost to cover the back of the police. We all know that arresting people is difficult, but if youve got nothing to hide, release the video, release the information, be transparent and be honest. Louisa deferred starting a law degree for three years, fearing a prosecution. The siblings were eventually acquitted, but both say their two year legal fight had a big impact on their lives. I was working in a retail store in westminster. I lost myjob because they barred me from the area. I was accused of something and i could have spent time away from my family, my daughter, everything that i love for malicious lies. The bbc has also learned that body worn video wasnt disclosed from the camera of the officer who pushed louisa. In a statement, the force told us there were errors with disclosure of evidence and apologised. No action has been taken against any of the officers involved. Cameras are only being put on when officers feel like its necessary or theyre being targeted. Its labelled as protection for the public, but ultimately, it protects the police. Cuffs . You got cuffs . The home office told the bbc that Police Forces should hold officers accountable to standards and use of cameras must be justified. Noel titheradge, bbc news. The spanish football club, barcelona has been placed under formal investigation, accused of bribing referees. The allegations span nearly two decades, and concern payments of nearly ten Million Dollars to companies owned by Jose Maria Negreira who had a role overseeing referees. The club has denied wrongdoing. Ernest macia, a Sports Commentator for Catalonia Radio who were investigating these payments. He spoke to the bbc earlier today. If you are theological link between both activities and this is what the judges trying to investigate, whether there is corruption, bribery, by the referees to favour barcelona, whether is another kind of crime like deflecting of money from Barcelona Tojose Maria Enriquez negreira, to distribute this money to other people are people inside barcelona, so that would be classical corruption, and this nature of the penalty, the crime is what the judges trying to investigate. He is trying to see whether there is any evidence, proof, not evidence, any proof that any written thing, piece of paper saying thatjose Maria Enriquez negreira was appointing one referee or anotherfor a Game Negreira was appointing one referee or another for a game versus barcelona, but the truth isjose Maria Enriquez negreira had no responsibility in deciding which referee was assigned to any game. He had influence on whether a referee from the Second Division would promote or whether one referee from the division were good enough to work in the important games in la liga, but there is no direct relation, whether they would be open to award penalties in favour of barcelona. So the proof most likely doesnt exist so the police, what they are trying to see is very difficult. A, they are trying to see is very difficult. �. , they are trying to see is very difficult. ,. , they are trying to see is very difficult. ,. ,. , difficult. A lot of people are clickin difficult. A lot of people are clicking on difficult. A lot of people are clicking on this difficult. A lot of people are clicking on this story. Difficult. A lot of people are clicking on this story. How. Clicking on this story. How distressed. The bbc help track them down and alerted the police but there is a short video clip that was sent of them in the truck. You can see that on the website. Do log on. Hello. Much quieter out there compared with how we finished yesterday. Storm agnes is out the way, but we have seen lots of cloud drift in from the west and mixed up with it ahead of these Weather Fronts its been quite a bit of Wildfire Smoke and thats turned the sunshine a bit hazy for some of you this morning. But there will be some brighter breaks at times as we go through the afternoon, some of the best of which will be across the north east of scotland, some towards the east as well. Isolated showers in the west. But most of you have a dry day. A bit of a breeze coming in from the southwest that keeps temperatures up today around 15 to 21 celsius. But by the end of the afternoon, into the evening, weve got some heavy bursts of rain set to push its way in, west of scotland, northern ireland, short intense bursts of rain, gusty winds that will be preceded across england and wales with some outbreaks of rain which develop through the evening rush hour and then work their way southwards and eastwards. As i said, one or two intense bursts of rain on that before clearer skies follow later for many temperatures in the clearer moments around 8 to 11 degrees, but still a pretty mild and muggy night towards that southeast corner, 15 to 17 as we start tomorrow morning. A5 for tomorrow, that Weather System is with us tonight. Clears out the way and then weve got a little bulge of High Pressure pushing in. So a fairly quiet day for many, but the low pressure to the north of scotland, this is what will bring strong to gale force winds, maybe 50, 60 mile an hour gusts for one or two and frequent showers driven in by that wind head. Further south, though, fewer showers. Many of you again spending the bulk, if not all of the day, dry. The further south, you are the more likely that will be the case. Temperatures here up to 21 degrees. Feeling a bit fresh, though, across northwest scotland, especially given those showers and the strength of the wind. Wind gradually eases down, though, into the start of the weekend, a cool start, fresh start. Theyve been used to a lovely bright start for many, but clouding over from the west and particularly across ireland and eventually into south west scotland, northern england, north and west wales well see outbreaks of rain develop. Top and tail of the country though stays dry and reasonably bright through the day. Temperatures, though, not particularly warm under those cloudy conditions in the west. Another spell of overnight rain, then, through saturday night into sunday. This Front Mayjust Drag its heels across the southern counties of england and wales as we start sunday. With that cloud will come some outbreaks of light rain or drizzle around, quite misty on the coast, slowly breaking up with some sunshine, it will be fine day. Isolated showers, temperatures around 1a to 20 degrees. Pleasant enough, though, in the sunshine. Take care. This is bbc news. The headlines. Balancing Freedom Of Expression and impartiality bbc stars are told what they can say on social media. New data suggests that the last two years have been catastrophic for glaciers in switzerland the largest decline since records began. A 17 year old boy is being questioned by police