Boris Johnson trying to undermine BBC leadership, insiders fear after leak

Fri, 07 Nov 2025

Director general under pressure after release of memo criticising reporting on Trump, trans rights and Gaza

• The Tube presenter, the former ballerina and the banker: the BBC board’s members

Boris Johnson and figures linked to him are engaging in an effort to undermine the BBC’s leadership, insiders fear, after the leaking of a memo criticising its reporting of Donald Trump, trans rights and Gaza.

Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, and other senior editorial staff are under pressure after the criticisms made in the document by Michael Prescott, a former independent external adviser to its editorial guidelines and standards committee (EGSC).