The BBC was last night under fire for blowing more than £600,000 on a legal battle to keep documents linked to the Martin Bashir scandal under wraps.
It comes as the Mail on Sunday can reveal that a judge has criticised the Corporation for a second time over its three-year campaign to keep swathes of emails secret.
In a series of stinging remarks, Judge Brian Kennedy highlighted the ‘disproportionate cost’ of its ‘burdensomely long’ legal fight.
Bashir’s 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana, in which the princess famously declared ‘there are three of us in this marriage’ – referring to Camilla, was a global scoop.
+3
Diana pictured during the Martin Bashir interview for BBC Panorama on November 20, 1995
+3
Martin Bashir’s 1995 Panorama interview with Princess Diana with Princess Diana was a global scoop
+3
The Corporation spent £536,000 on legal fees and £75,637 on unspecified ‘support services’ (Pictured, a general view of the BBC headquarters)
It later emerged that Bashir had shown Diana’s brother Earl Spencer forged bank statements to make Diana think her inner circle was selling her secrets.
An inquiry by Lord Dyson concluded that the BBC had covered up Bashir’s deceit but investigative journalist Andy Webb believed the BBC had not released all of its incriminating evidence. In June 2021, Mr Webb requested internal BBC emails sent between September 2020 and November 2020 that related to the Bashir scandal. After a long-running freedom of information battle, during which it was criticised by Judge Kennedy, the Corporation finally released 10,000 pages of heavily redacted documents earlier this year.
Many key passages were, however, blotted out, with more than 3,400 pages partially or fully redacted.
Now, in a new judgment obtained by the MoS, Judge Kennedy KC dismissed Mr Webb’s bid to force the BBC to disclose much of the material it had withheld – but he also again criticised the Corporation’s failure to properly search its files for the information the journalist had requested.
He wrote: ‘The journey on which the BBC has taken the appellant (and then the Tribunal) has been arduously and burdensomely long and hard.
‘It has also come at a disproportionate cost – not only in terms of significant delay to the administration of justice but also in terms of expense to the public purse and to public confidence in the ability of the public service broadcaster to deal with and answer legitimate information requests in a responsible, accountable and adequate way.’
The Corporation spent £536,000 on legal fees and £75,637 on unspecified ‘support services’.
Last night Mr Webb said: ‘Will there be any internal fallout from the judge’s criticisms? I suspect not.’ The BBC said it accepts ‘errors were made’ and took ‘extensive steps’ to rectify them.
News
Happy 42nd birthday, Prince William! King Charles leads tributes to the Prince of Wales with a sweet throwback image of the monarch holding his baby son
The Royal Family has wished the Prince of Wales a happy birthday with a sweet throwback snap on social media. A young William is pictured in an adorable black…
How Diana’s ultimate Revenge Dress SHOULD have looked: Princess’s iconic LBD would have faded into cream obscurity but for a last-minute change of design, an intervention from her loving brother… and a fall-out with a very famous designer
It was one of the most meaningful statements in the history of fashion – and the Royal Family. Nearly 30 years ago, on the night Prince Charles admitted to his…
Prince William is positioning himself as ‘the people’s Prince’ by making sure he’s seen at Taylor Swift Eras Tour and wants to be seen as a ‘relatable royal’ like Princess Diana, royal expert claims
Prince William is positioning himself as ‘the People’s Prince’ and wants to be seen as a ‘relatable royal like Princess Diana‘, a royal expert has claimed. The Prince of…
Stunning collection of Princess Diana gowns and letters she wrote before her death to be sold at L.A. auction
A collection of Prince Diana’s gowns and letters that she wrote before her death are to be sold at the largest auction of her belongings in 27 years….
Victoria Beckham showcases her impeccable sense of style in a chic grey suit and oversized shades while filming in NYC – after landing huge Netflix deal for tell-all documentary
Victoria Beckham cut a stylish figure as she was spotted filming a mystery project in New York City‘s swanky Meatpacking District on Thursday. The former Spice Girl, 50, looked…
Cruz Beckham, 19, reveals he is in love with new older girlfriend Jackie Apostel as she celebrates her 29th birthday after loved-up snaps
Cruz Beckham has revealed he is in love with his new older girlfriend Jackie Apostel as she shared sweet snaps from her 29th birthday celebrations. The youngest…
End of content
No more pages to load