A FORMER director of communications at 10 Downing Street branded an “active agent of the Tory party” at the BBC has been reappointed to the corporation’s board.
Robbie Gibb, an outspoken Brexiteer and the brother of Tory MP and former minister Nick Gibb, was first given a seat on the BBC board in May 2021 under Boris Johnson’s tenure as prime minister.
Gibb had formerly been Theresa May’s communications director at No10 before helping establish GB News.
Without specifically naming Gibb, former Newsnight host Emily Maitlis singled him out as an “active agent” of the Tories in a lecture at the Edinburgh International Television Festival in 2022.
Maitlis spoke about “the BBC Board, where another active agent of the Conservative party – former Downing Street spin doctor, and former adviser to BBC rival GB News – now sits, acting as the arbiter of BBC impartiality”.
Gibb has faced further controversy after former culture secretary Nadine Dorries alleged that he had lobbied to have Tory peer Stephen Gilbert appointed to the head of broadcast regulator Ofcom.
However, on Thursday it was announced that the UK Government had re-appointed Gibb to the BBC board.
The UK Government said in a press release: "Following Privy Council approval on 13 March, Sir Robbie Gibb has been reappointed for four years from 07 May 2024 to 06 May 2028."
READ MORE: BBC insiders back Emily Maitlis's claims about 'Tory agent' influencing output
It went on: “This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
“Under the code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.
“Sir Robbie Gibb has declared that he was Director of Communications at No 10 until July 2019.”
The base fee for all BBC non-executive directors is £33,000 per annum, the UK Government said.
A committee chair fee of £5000 is paid on top of the base fee for chairing one of the permanent committees of the board. Gibb chairs two committees: the BBC’s Remuneration Committee and the England Committee.
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