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The BBC’s director-general will face the media today as the scandal over a top presenter deepens.

Tim Davie will speak to journalists as he unveils the broadcaster’s annual report, which is set to reveal how much its biggest stars are paid.

But the briefing will likely be overshadowed by questions about the unnamed celebrity who has been suspended amid allegations he paid a teenager for sexually explicit photographs.

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The young person at the centre of the controversy has released a statement to the BBC that says nothing inappropriate or unlawful happened – describing allegations made by The Sun as “rubbish”.

Their lawyer added that the 20-year-old is estranged from their mother and stepfather, who made the claims to the newspaper.

In response, the young person’s mother told The Sun she stood by her claims, alleged the presenter “has got into their head”, and questioned how they were able to afford legal representation.

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Meanwhile, their stepfather has accused the BBC of “not telling the truth” – and claimed the broadcaster had lied when it said “new allegations” had led to the presenter’s suspension.

“I told them the youngster was 20 and it had been going on for three years. It’s not hard to do the maths,” he said.

“I told the BBC I had gone to the police in desperation but they couldn’t do anything as they said it wasn’t illegal. They knew all of this.”

He went on to claim that the BBC ignored emails sent on 19 May that allegedly included bank statements showing payments made by the presenter.

The BBC earlier confirmed it had received a complaint in May.

Read more:
Why aren’t journalists naming the presenter?
Everything we know so far
Presenter should only be named after ‘full’ investigation – justice secretary

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BBC presenter claims are ‘totally wrong’

What are the allegations?

According to The Sun, which first broke the story on Saturday, the presenter paid the young person about £35,000 in exchange for sexually explicit images during 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.

The Metropolitan Police have been called in over the claims but are yet to open a criminal investigation, with a statement saying the force is “assessing the information … and further enquiries are taking place to establish whether there is evidence of a criminal offence being committed”.

While The Sun has not revealed the name of the star, they have said he is paid a six-figure salary and is currently off air.

Following the publication of allegations in the press, the presenter reportedly contacted the young person involved – phoning them and asking: “What have you done?”

A number of high-profile presenters at the BBC – including the likes of 5 Live’s Nicky Campbell, Eurovision’s Rylan and Top Gear’s Paddy McGuinness – have all been forced to publicly deny it is them who have been suspended, after social media users named them online.

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Assisted dying bill backed by MPs after emotional Commons debate

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Assisted dying bill backed by MPs after emotional Commons debate

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”.

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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.

Pic: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA

Screen grab of Labour MP Kim Leadbetter opening the debate in favour of her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, in the chamber of the House of Commons in Westminster, London. Picture date: Friday November 29, 2024.

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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.

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Heidi Alexander named new transport secretary after Louise Haigh’s resignation over mobile phone guilty plea

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Heidi Alexander named new transport secretary after Louise Haigh's resignation over mobile phone guilty plea

Heidi Alexander has been appointed the new transport secretary after Louise Haigh stepped down.

The Swindon South MP had been serving as a justice minister until her promotion today, and worked as Sadiq Khan’s deputy transport mayor between 2018-2021.

Ms Haigh resigned after Sky News revealed she pleaded guilty to an offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013.

In a letter to the prime minister, she described the incident as a “mistake” but said that “whatever the facts of the matter, this issue will inevitably be a distraction from delivering on the work of this government”.

Ms Haigh claims she was “mugged on a night out” and believed her phone had been stolen, but discovered “some time later” this was not the case.

She called the incident a “genuine mistake from which I did not make any gain”.

The Tories have said it raises questions about what exactly Sir Keir knew when he appointed her to his shadow cabinet in opposition.

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Responding to her resignation letter, the prime minister thanked Ms Haigh for “all you have done to deliver this government’s ambitious transport agenda” and said: “I know you still have a huge contribution to make in the future.”

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16-year-old girl charged with murder of man in King’s Cross

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16-year-old girl charged with murder of man in King's Cross

A 16-year-old girl has been charged with the murder of a man in King’s Cross.

The teenager, from Brixton, south London, will appear at magistrates’ court later today charged with the murder of Anthony Marks, 51, in August this year.

Mr Marks was assaulted on Cromer Street on Saturday 10 August.

A 17-year-old boy has previously been charged and remanded in custody to face trial next year.

Police are keen to hear from any witnesses who may not have come forward yet, as well as Mr Marks’s next of kin, who still remain unidentified.

Read more from Sky News:
Assisted dying: What is in the legislation?
Woman on e-bike dies after being ‘rammed by 4×4’

Anyone with information should call the police at 101 or contact the incident room direct on 0208 358 0300.

They can also reach out on social media platform X.

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