UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp warns sending BBC licence fee to US President Donald Trump is “not smart” after $5bn legal threat.
As reported by The Independent, Chris Philp said sending BBC licence fees “over to Mar-a-Lago” would be unwise after Donald Trump’s $5bn lawsuit threat.
What did Chris Philp say about using BBC licence fees to settle Donald Trump’s $5bn lawsuit?
Chris Philp called Donald Trump the “wronged party” but opposed using BBC licence fees to settle the dispute over the January 6, 2021, edit.
Over the weekend, speaking on Air Force One, Donald Trump said he plans to sue the BBC for between $1bn and $5bn.
When asked if licence fee money should go to the White House, Mr Philp said, “No, I don’t think so.”
He stated,
“So look, we all work hard and pay our licence fee. I don’t think sending some of it over to Mar-a-Lago would be a smart thing to do.”
Mr Philp earlier called President Trump the “wronged party,” adding that “we expect a much higher standard than that of our national broadcaster.”
What did Shabana Mahmood say about government support for the BBC?
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood refrained from commenting on Prime Minister Sir Keir Stamrer-President Trump talks but affirmed government support for the BBC.
She called on the broadcaster to “get your house in order,” adding,
“But we are supporting the BBC and we believe it has an important role to play in our national life, and standing for impartial news in an ever more contested world.”
What did Sir Ed Davey say about Keir Starmer and Trump’s BBC lawsuit?
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on PM Sir Keir Starmer to demand Donald Trump drop his “ludicrous” BBC lawsuit.
He said,
“This is Keir Starmer’s moment to stand up for Britain, for every TV licence fee payer in the country, and for a free press that can hold the powerful to account.”
Mr Davey stated,
“When he speaks to Trump, Keir Starmer must demand that he drops his ludicrous lawsuit and stops interfering in our country.”
He added,
“The prime minister has spent months cosying up to the president. If he can’t stop him attacking one of our most precious institutions and hitting millions of licence fee payers in the pocket, what was it all for?”
What did the BBC say after apologising for the Trump video editing error?
The BBC admitted its January 6 edit of Donald Trump’s speech gave a “mistaken impression” that he was calling for violence.
The broadcaster called the splicing an “error of judgment,” but faced a $1 billion lawsuit threat from the president’s lawyers. It refused to provide any financial compensation.
A BBC spokesperson said Chair Samir Shah sent a personal apology to the White House. The broadcaster’s lawyers also wrote to the president’s legal team.
The spokesperson added,
“While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
The programme, broadcast a week before the 2024 US election, spliced two clips to make Mr Trump appear to say, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol … and I’ll be there with you.”
The broadcaster confirmed the Panorama episode Trump: A Second Chance? will not return to the air. It posted a retraction online on the programme’s website.
What is Number 10’s response to the BBC-Trump legal dispute?
A Number 10 spokesman said,
“It’s clearly not for the Government to comment on any ongoing legal matters.”
Pressed on whether the government would help the BBC with any legal costs if a court ruled in President Trump’s favor, the prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman, responded,
“That’s a hypothetical question. Again, it’s not for the government to comment on any ongoing legal matters.”
He added,
“Our position is clear: The BBC is independent and it’s for the corporation to respond to questions about their editorial decisions and, more broadly, we have a close relationship with the US on shared priorities, including security.”
The UK-US relationship remains “very strong,” the spokesman said, while declining to comment on any impact from the BBC-Trump dispute.
What is Mar-a-Lago?
Mar-a-Lago is a luxury resort club and historic estate in Palm Beach, Florida, originally built in the 1920s by Marjorie Merriweather Post.
Donald Trump purchased Mar-a-Lago in 1985 for under $10 million, initially using it as a private residence. In 1995, he converted it into an exclusive private club
During Trump’s presidency, Mar-a-Lago was known as the “Winter White House,” hosting political meetings and foreign dignitaries.