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BBC chairman steps down after not disclosing role in Boris Johnson loan guarantee

Richard Sharp helped facilitate an £800,000 loan guarantee for then UK prime minister Boris Johnson before being recommended for the chairman role.

RICHARD SHARP HAS resigned as BBC chairman after conceding a report found he breached the UK governance code for public appointments.

He announced this morning that he will stand down at the end of June after reading the findings of barrister Adam Heppinstall KC’s review into his appointment, which has just been published.

The report was ordered after it emerged he played a role in facilitating an £800,000 loan guarantee for then UK prime minister Boris Johnson before being recommended for the influential role overseeing the public broadcaster’s independence.

featureimage Richard Sharp will stand down at the end of June PA PA

In a statement, he said: “Mr Heppinstall’s view is that while I did breach the governance code for public appointments, he states that a breach does not necessarily invalidate an appointment.

“Indeed, I have always maintained the breach was inadvertent and not material, which the facts he lays out substantiate. The Secretary of State has consulted with the BBC Board who support that view.

“Nevertheless, I have decided that it is right to prioritise the interests of the BBC.

“I feel that this matter may well be a distraction from the Corporation’s good work were I to remain in post until the end of my term.

“I have therefore this morning resigned as BBC Chair to the Secretary of State, and to the Board.”

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:29 AM

    Will the ceo of thejournal.ie step down after allowing such repression in the comments section deleting people’s comments who clearly follow the rules thejournal.ie set out and then banning people who follow the comment section rules…which can be seen as trying to controll the narrative and mislead readers with misinformation…like thejournal.ie did throughout the whole pandemic.

    Suppressing political discourse in favour of another…

    144
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    Mute honey badger
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:34 AM

    @William slevin: Bore off. Ffs.

    151
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:40 AM

    @honey badger: oh look at you thejournal.ie repression loyalist…you can’t actually defend thejournal.ie so you resort to a nonsense response…your failure is showing quite well

    58
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:46 AM

    @William slevin: Here’s a thought, maybe stop calling people names?

    It really is the lowest form of debate, in fact it’s not even debate.

    62
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    Mute Shane Lad
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:53 AM

    @William slevin: no one ever talks about the good things Gaddafi did during his reign or acknowledge when conspiracy theories are proven to be true and acknowledged by governments. Please re publish my pro ISIS and anti rainbow flag waving comments. Lizzy is in a box and up the RA. Let’s see how long this one’s last LOL . Comments will always be deleted. For fear of upsetting a small few.

    22
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    Mute Bat Collins
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:55 AM

    @William slevin: (sigh) Not another covid conspiracy theorist who thinks that doctors and nurses are out to murder us by helping our immune system and then dragging the “meeja” into his “great reset” theory. Amazingly no mention of George Soros!

    54
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    Mute west awake
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:32 PM

    @Tricia G: You can’t talk, you personally insult everyone who disagrees with your rabidly pro-war, pro NATO views.

    15
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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:42 PM

    @William slevin:

    1
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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:43 PM

    @William slevin: Troll

    16
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    Mute John Moore
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    Apr 28th 2023, 8:18 PM

    @William slevin: Why do you keep reading the journal and posting comments on it then?

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 10:46 AM

    No wonder the comment section ends up so skewed on here giving a false representation of the actuall political views in the comment section….

    How many users have been banned because they were of the wrong political persuasion…

    The intolerance and bigotry of thejournal.ie seems to know no bounds as represent by the toxic behaviour of many on here that the journal would ban if they were of the wrong political ideology that thejournal.ie does not approve of…

    50
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    Mute honey badger
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:05 AM

    @William slevin: I’m surprised you haven’t set up your own website, where others who share your views can run wild and free with any old nonsense in the comments section.
    I feel there is a brave new world awaiting you, and others, away from the grotesque oppression of this site – an oppression you return to daily, I might add.

    93
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:06 AM

    @honey badger: That’s a great idea!!

    Liam, you should totally do that.

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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:44 PM

    @William slevin: Troll

    10
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    Mute west awake
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:29 PM

    Fair enough, but isn’t the top executive in RTE a brother of a top Fine Gael politician?

    34
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    Mute Robert Halvey
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:32 AM

    The tory Gutter press system has a hiccup

    30
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:12 AM

    @honey badger:”@William slevin: I’m surprised you haven’t set up your own website, where others who share your views can run wild and free with any old nonsense in the comments section.
    I feel there is a brave new world awaiting you, and others, away from the grotesque oppression of this site – an oppression you return to daily, I might add.”

    This site poses itself as impartial and non biases…I’m only holding it to account of the ideals it espouses and its own rules…

    Seems you and tricia would love me gone…I wonder why? So you s and your kind can have free reign of this comment section without push back their for becoming and echo chamber of your rediculouse thoughts lol I think not, I’ll be staying just to keep you’s in your place and for the others a different opinion to read and or respond too…

    16
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:18 AM

    @William slevin: Wullie, you’re not pushing back against us, we respond to YOU.

    We’re the ones pushing back against the opinions your share which appal many so we call you out.

    You’re not the plucky hero in this scenario.

    46
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:18 AM

    @William slevin: In fact, when has ANYONE responded to one of your posts agreeing with it?

    36
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    Mute west awake
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:37 PM

    @Tricia G: William has valid points, and he has as much right to have an opinion as you do.
    You should respect other people’s opinions, every comment you make is a hysterical attack on other commenters, or else you’re busy sucking up the Journal’s editors.

    11
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    Mute Tricia G
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:55 PM

    @west awake: “You should respect other people’s opinions” – No, I have no obligation to respect anyone’s opinions.

    I respect their right to have their opinion but if I believe their opinion is trash, then that’s my opinion and you have to respect my right to hold it.

    “Hysterical”? You think my comments are “hysterical”. Hhhhhmmm, that’s an interesting term you’ve chosen. Now why would you chose that word when referring to my comments. Let’s think……

    17
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:21 PM

    Tricia g:”@William slevin: I’m currently reading Madeleine Albright’s book on Fascism.

    You should give it a read. It might enlighten you as you seem to be confused as to what it entails.”

    Now I know your definitely a fascist…you telling me to read a book by a woman that and I quote said”"We have heard that half a million [Iraqi] children have died. I mean, that is more children than died in Hiroshima,” Stahl said. “And, you know, is the price worth it?” “I think that is a very hard choice,” Albright answered, “but the price, we think, the price is worth it.” So you think half a million dead children is OK like albright since you praise her so much?

    Wow just wow….now I can see why your so fine with a abortion…Will you think its worth if half a million irish kids are killed is worth it….

    Your literly reading the book of a fascist…well I suppose you were telling me you agree with me that your a fascist…

    Is their anyone else here in the comments section here that looks up to Madeleine Albright a woman who thinks it’s worth it that half a million iraqi children are dead because of US sanctions on Iraq…just like tricia g looks up to her?

    17
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:07 AM

    @bat collins:”@William slevin: (sigh) Not another covid conspiracy theorist who thinks that doctors and nurses are out to murder us by helping our immune system and then dragging the “meeja” into his “great reset” theory. Amazingly no mention of George Soros!”

    Really with all I said that’s your take away to make a baseless claim against me…to try a s deride me and undermine me…your failure of a response has been noted…

    13
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    Mute dream catcher
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:41 PM

    Can someone explain to me how this affects anyone in Ireland?

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:18 AM

    @tricia g:”@William slevin: Here’s a thought, maybe stop calling people names?

    It really is the lowest form of debate, in fact it’s not even debate.”

    I don’t call people names I give my honest opinion and my honest opinion is your a woman who has internalised mysogny and commits to ensure continued systemic misogyny is carried out their for in my honest opinion not to insult you but to accurately describe you as best as I can I believe you are a misogynist…

    Now that’s not calling someone a name now is it? The fact is if I have and honest opinion that I can describe why I believe that way and in detail then its not calling names…I also in my opinion believe you and your ilk on here are fascists…that’s an opinion you maybe be insulted by that opinion but it is not name calling it is a based opinion on your behaviour…

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    Mute Tricia G
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:26 AM

    @William slevin: I’m currently reading Madeleine Albright’s book on Fascism.

    You should give it a read. It might enlighten you as you seem to be confused as to what it entails.

    30
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    Mute honey badger
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    Apr 28th 2023, 11:29 AM

    @William slevin: I don’t mind if you stay or go. I just think you’d be happier somewhere else where you weren’t constantly fighting the tide. It must be exhausting.
    If the rules don’t suit you, why stay?

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:07 PM

    @honey badger: that’s the thing I follow the rules…nothing I’ve said has broken them when I’ve givin my opinions…except when I take it to another article to protest their disregarding their own rules…

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    Mute Nick Caffrey
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:46 PM

    @William slevin:

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    Mute Emmet Murphy
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:49 PM

    Another friend of, Boris the Brexiteer goes down in flames and I wonder how the British feel about being lied to by a Serial liar like Boris?

    14
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:10 PM

    @tricia g:”@William slevin: In fact, when has ANYONE responded to one of your posts agreeing with it?”

    Are you serious theirs been many that respond to my comments…their be even more comments if they were deleted which they have and users being banned…

    So your question asking why… is laughable of you, have you no self awareness or are you really just that clueless…

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    Mute Shane Lad
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:50 PM

    :-) this is hilarious

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:32 PM

    The journal is suppressing my comment I’ve tried multiple times now to post my comment in its full but it only posts the first couple lines…

    Thejournal.ie censorship evolving…

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 12:57 PM

    @nick caffery:”@William slevin: Troll”

    Care to explain…I’ve. Made countless detailed responses of my honest opinion…were you just make a one word response? You sure not the troll?

    6
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:14 PM

    @tricia g:”@west awake: “You should respect other people’s opinions” – No, I have no obligation to respect anyone’s opinions.

    I respect their right to have their opinion but if I believe their opinion is trash, then that’s my opinion and you have to respect my right to hold it.

    “Hysterical”? You think my comments are “hysterical”. Hhhhhmmm, that’s an interesting term you’ve chosen. Now why would you chose that word when referring to my comments. Let’s think……”

    Jeez even you typing hysterical in quotations comes across as hysterical

    3
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:15 PM

    @William slevin: “You should respect other people’s opinions” – No, I have no obligation to respect anyone’s opinions.

    I respect their right to have their opinion but if I believe their opinion is trash, then that’s my opinion and you have to respect my right to hold it.

    “Hysterical”? You think my comments are “hysterical”. Hhhhhmmm, that’s an interesting term you’ve chosen. Now why would you chose that word when referring to my comments. Let’s think……”

    Jeez even you typing hysterical in quotations comes across as hysterical

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:16 PM

    @William slevin: hmm only half my comment is being posted :/

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:18 PM

    Jeez even you typing hysterical in quotations comes across as hysterical

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:19 PM

    Hmmmm I do believe their is something a miss here…it won’t let me post the full comment

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    Mute honey badger
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:21 PM

    @William slevin: Maybe put the phone away for a while. Genuinely.

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:25 PM

    @honey badger: I will respond to those as they respond to me…I can’t help it you and tricia g want to reply to me so much…

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 2:02 PM

    @dream catcher:”@William slevin: Will you please go away with your off topic spam.”

    What’s off topic the article is about corruption in the media…I’ve just pointed out thejournal.ie own corruption in its handling of deleting comments and banning people…I made one comment the rest was responding to people responding to me…so that’s hardly spamming lol now is it?

    As for the multiple same comments that’s either a bug in the system or thejournal.ie suppressing my full comment being posted…

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:25 PM

    @tricia g:”@west awake: “You should respect other people’s opinions” – No, I have no obligation to respect anyone’s opinions.

    I respect their right to have their opinion but if I believe their opinion is trash, then that’s my opinion and you have to respect my right to hold it.

    “Hysterical”? You think my comments are “hysterical”. Hhhhhmmm, that’s an interesting term you’ve chosen. Now why would you chose that word when referring to my comments. Let’s think……”

    Jeez even you typing hysterical in quotations comes across as hysterical

    1
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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:30 PM

    @tricia g:” Jeez even you typing ********* in quotations comes across as **********

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:29 PM

    Jeez even you typing ********* in quotations comes across as *********

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    Mute William slevin
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:26 PM

    Jeez even you typing hysterical in quotations comes across as hysterical

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    Mute dream catcher
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    Apr 28th 2023, 1:48 PM

    @William slevin: Will you please go away with your off topic spam.

    17
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