BBC presenter scandal: Allegations are ‘rubbish’, says young person’s lawyer – report
Claims made by the mother in the BBC presenter scandal are “rubbish”, a lawyer for the young person has reportedly said.
In a letter to the BBC, the lawyer casts doubt on The Sun’s story about the male star who has not been publicly identified but is reportedly a “household name”.
The letter said “nothing inappropriate or unlawful” took place between the young person and the presenter, according to the BBC.
The letter added the young person sent a denial to the newspaper on Friday evening, saying there was “no truth to it”.
However, the “inappropriate article” was still published, the lawyer told the corporation.
Read more: BBC presenter claims – live updates
It comes as the Metropolitan Police earlier said it was “assessing information” supplied by the BBC over the claims.
The force is carrying out further enquiries to establish whether any crime has been committed following the allegations.
Representatives for the broadcaster spoke to Met detectives, who said they are looking at the information discussed at the virtual meeting – but have not yet launched an investigation.
The BBC quoted a spokesperson for The Sun as saying: “We have reported a story about two very concerned parents who made a complaint to the BBC about the behaviour of a presenter and the welfare of their child.
“Their complaint was not acted upon by the BBC. We have seen evidence that supports their concerns. It’s now for the BBC to properly investigate.”
According to the newspaper, which first broke the story on Saturday, the presenter paid the young person, now aged 20, about £35,000 in exchange for sexually explicit images over a three-year period.
He allegedly began requesting the images in 2020 when the individual was 17 years old and made a series of payments over the years.
The individual had reportedly used the money to fund an addiction to crack cocaine – that had “destroyed” their life, according to their mother.
It was also alleged the presenter stripped to his underwear during a video call with them.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
What we know about claims against BBC star
Read more:
Presenter should only be named after ‘full’ investigation – justice secretary
Everything we know about the claims
The stars who have denied it’s them
Family members of the young person said they made a complaint to the BBC on 19 May, but approached The Sun after becoming frustrated the presenter was still on air a month later.
While the paper has not revealed the name of the star, they have said he is paid a six-figure salary and is currently off-air. He was suspended by the BBC on Sunday.
Following the publication of allegations in the press, the presenter is understood to have contacted the young person involved, phoning them and asking, “what have you done?”
In a statement issued by the BBC on Sunday, the corporation confirmed they first received a complaint about the presenter in May.
They said they were taking the allegations “very seriously,” and had gone on to suspend the presenter after receiving new allegations of a different nature in addition to their own enquiries.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Jeremy Vine: ‘It can’t be me’
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Wrongly named presenter takes legal advice
Gary Lineker, Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine and Nicky Campbell are among the BBC stars to have publicly stated that they are not the presenter in question.
The presenter remains unnamed due to a number of reasons.
Firstly, the reports in The Sun are allegations and it is not clear what evidence they have and who supplied it.
It is also unclear if any laws have been broken, without knowing the content of the alleged photographs, and when exactly they were sent.
And the UK’s defamation laws protect individuals against harm, reputational or otherwise, caused by things that have been said about them which turn out to be false.
Assisted dying could become legal in England and Wales after the bill was backed by MPs in a historic vote.
Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill received 330 yes votes compared to 275 noes at its second reading in the House of Commons – a majority of 55.
Politics Live: MPs voting on historic assisted dying legislation
The bill would allow adults who are terminally ill with just six months left to live to request medical assistance to end their lives.
Today’s result means the legislation will now progress to the committee stage for scrutiny, with the Lords also to be given opportunities to express their views on the measure before it potentially becomes law.
MPs were given a free vote – meaning they could side with their conscience and not along party lines, with the government staying neutral on the matter.
The division list showed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer backed the proposal, as did Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
But other cabinet members like Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood voted against the bill, having previously warned about vulnerable people being coerced and of a “slippery slope of death on demand”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
MPs debate assisted dying
The vote came after a five-hour debate in the chamber, which drew emotional arguments on both sides.
Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell revealed he changed his mind on assisted dying after finding himself with “tears pouring down my face” on hearing the stories of constituents whose loved ones had died “in great pain and great indignity”.
On the other side of the argument, veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said assisted dying could result in sick people “feeling like a burden” on society, adding: ” I can imagine myself saying that in particular circumstances.”
She warned: “If this bill passes, we will have the NHS as a fully-funded 100% suicide service but palliative care will only be funded at 30% at best.”
Bill about ‘choice and dignity’
Opening the debate on the topic, Labour backbencher Ms Leadbeater said the bill was about giving dying people “choice, autonomy, and dignity” – saying the current law was “failing” them.
Kim Leadbeater: PA
Read More:
Two people reveal contrasting views on assisted dying
Five stories that bring the assisted dying debate home
She has insisted her bill contains “the most robust safeguards” of any assisted dying legislation in the word.
This includes two independent doctors having to approve the decision, followed by a high-court judge, with the person having to administer the drugs themselves.
The legislation also includes a maximum 14-year prison sentence for anyone who coerces someone into requesting assisted dying or taking the medicine.
Speaking to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby after the vote, an emotional Ms Leadbeater said she was “incredibly proud” of the result and parliament must now “take on board everything that’s been discussed in the chamber”, including the state of palliative care and the rights of disabled people.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
UK
Heidi Alexander named new transport secretary after Louise Haigh’s resignation over mobile phone guilty plea
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports8 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway