David Leigh
@davidleighx.bsky.social
Journalist.
Author of "Investigative Journalism: a survival guide" ( Palgrave) http://bit.ly/2lLQhSy.
Was Guardian Investigations Editor; ex-IMPRESS.
Posts are news not endorsements.
Author of "Investigative Journalism: a survival guide" ( Palgrave) http://bit.ly/2lLQhSy.
Was Guardian Investigations Editor; ex-IMPRESS.
Posts are news not endorsements.
Reposted by David Leigh
You know that time that a major British news organisation mistakenly sought out a random dude who happened to share a name with a former New York mayor in order to go after a left wing New York mayoral candidate? Did anyone resign?
November 10, 2025 at 10:19 PM
You know that time that a major British news organisation mistakenly sought out a random dude who happened to share a name with a former New York mayor in order to go after a left wing New York mayoral candidate? Did anyone resign?
Reposted by David Leigh
Can Carter Ruck and Mohamed Amersi stop SRA investigating overly aggressive litigation behaviour? Yes, no, maybe (probably not but...)
A ruckus about rights
Carter-Ruck is challenging, along with its client, Mohamed Amersi, the SRA's powers to see privileged documents. Neil Rose of legalfutures has a good story on it here. Image by christianesteve from Pixabay The background is Mr Amersi brought a libel action against ex-Conservative MP Charlotte Leslie that was said to be abusive and a SLAPP. He claimed at the time:
lawyerwatch.wordpress.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Can Carter Ruck and Mohamed Amersi stop SRA investigating overly aggressive litigation behaviour? Yes, no, maybe (probably not but...)
Reposted by David Leigh
It’s easy to see why Trump wants to destroy the world’s number one news source. We can’t let him.
The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK.
The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.
The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK.
The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.
November 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
It’s easy to see why Trump wants to destroy the world’s number one news source. We can’t let him.
The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK.
The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.
The BBC belongs to all of us here in the UK.
The Prime Minister and leaders from across the political spectrum should be united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.
Reposted by David Leigh
But that is not enough. No.10 should never have been in a position to install Gibb in the first place. It shouldn't control the board membership, the DG appointment, or the purse strings. What's required is genuine independence for the BBC.
November 10, 2025 at 12:50 PM
But that is not enough. No.10 should never have been in a position to install Gibb in the first place. It shouldn't control the board membership, the DG appointment, or the purse strings. What's required is genuine independence for the BBC.
Reposted by David Leigh
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
November 10, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Maybe Keir should demand the heads of major US news networks any time they imply Britain is on the brink of civil war or that we live under sharia law. Or does it not work both ways?
Reposted by David Leigh
The rebellion was led by the politically-appointed members of the board. observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
The Observer view: political interference at the BBC | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 11:47 AM
The rebellion was led by the politically-appointed members of the board. observer.co.uk/opinion-and-...
The role of Samir Shah seems mysterious to me
Nick Robinson closed the Today programme emphasising that the BBC Board is *still* fighting over the wording of a statement over the Panorama programme.
it is very strange that BBC chair Samir Shah is hiding this morning. He should by rights be on the Today programme presenting himself as in charge and hands on the tiller. I wonder if he is frightened for his position
November 10, 2025 at 11:45 AM
The role of Samir Shah seems mysterious to me
Reposted by David Leigh
it is very strange that BBC chair Samir Shah is hiding this morning. He should by rights be on the Today programme presenting himself as in charge and hands on the tiller. I wonder if he is frightened for his position
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 AM
it is very strange that BBC chair Samir Shah is hiding this morning. He should by rights be on the Today programme presenting himself as in charge and hands on the tiller. I wonder if he is frightened for his position
Reposted by David Leigh
instead you have Craig Oliver rather calmly and rationally questioning his role at 7.45am the morning after two very dramatic top level resignations
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 AM
instead you have Craig Oliver rather calmly and rationally questioning his role at 7.45am the morning after two very dramatic top level resignations
Reposted by David Leigh
If, as several people are suggesting this morning, the DG and News CEO were prevented from issuing an apology re Panorama last week by the board, it seems extremely urgent that the chair of the board clarify what happened
November 10, 2025 at 7:44 AM
If, as several people are suggesting this morning, the DG and News CEO were prevented from issuing an apology re Panorama last week by the board, it seems extremely urgent that the chair of the board clarify what happened
Reposted by David Leigh
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
November 10, 2025 at 5:44 AM
Once every 20 years or so, the director-general of the BBC is forced to resign for being insufficiently rightwing. Alastair Milne in 1987. Greg Dyke in 2004. Tim Davie in 2025. The great irony is that the BBC was in all cases profoundly biased towards established power. But just not biased enough …
Reposted by David Leigh
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 7:30 PM
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
Reposted by David Leigh
The niche moment I'm waiting for is Kemi Badenoch denouncing whichever government was in charge when Davie was appointed.
November 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
The niche moment I'm waiting for is Kemi Badenoch denouncing whichever government was in charge when Davie was appointed.
Reposted by David Leigh
Just absolutely classic BBC. You've just broadcast the most successful programme of the year, uniting Gen Z kids online and Boomers on broadcast in a return to appointment television. And instead of celebrating, your DG reigns due to a made-up right-wing scandal.
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Just absolutely classic BBC. You've just broadcast the most successful programme of the year, uniting Gen Z kids online and Boomers on broadcast in a return to appointment television. And instead of celebrating, your DG reigns due to a made-up right-wing scandal.
Who cares what some character called Prescott says? It's a hoary old stunt
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC ‘100% fake news’, says Donald Trump’s press secretary
Comments by Karoline Leavitt follow allegations that Panorama documentary misled viewers with its editing of a Trump speech
www.theguardian.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Who cares what some character called Prescott says? It's a hoary old stunt
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by David Leigh
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
Reposted by David Leigh
Extraordinary story from @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social: A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived.
One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.”
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.”
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived
Exclusive: The Tribune can reveal that Andrew Milne has threatened leaseholders with high court action. It ‘broke my heart’ one woman says
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Extraordinary story from @sheffieldtribune.bsky.social: A London lawyer bought hundreds of Sheffield freeholds. Then the ‘very aggressive’ letters arrived.
One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.”
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
One woman: “It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car...He has just wiped me out.”
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
Reposted by David Leigh
A friend in the north east said there's a row of shops near him that shuffles between various owners selling knock-off cigarettes.
And one legit taxpaying holdout shop that differentiates itself with a big sign outside saying "CHEAPEST LEGAL FAGS IN GATESHEAD".
And one legit taxpaying holdout shop that differentiates itself with a big sign outside saying "CHEAPEST LEGAL FAGS IN GATESHEAD".
When the arse falls out of the high street and people can’t afford stuff, enter the criminals
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Crime network behind UK mini-marts is enabling migrants to work illegally
Undercover reporters were told how easy it was to make big profits selling illegal vapes and cigarettes.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 10:54 AM
A friend in the north east said there's a row of shops near him that shuffles between various owners selling knock-off cigarettes.
And one legit taxpaying holdout shop that differentiates itself with a big sign outside saying "CHEAPEST LEGAL FAGS IN GATESHEAD".
And one legit taxpaying holdout shop that differentiates itself with a big sign outside saying "CHEAPEST LEGAL FAGS IN GATESHEAD".
Reposted by David Leigh
“The BBC didn’t get January 6 wrong. It should be brave enough to say so. Whoever wrote the internal report seen by The Telegraph is either malign or mistaken. The way it has been weaponised to attack the BBC shows the folly of trying to appease Team Trump, or to negotiate with them in good faith.”
The BBC was right about the Capitol riots. In a sane world, Trump would be in jail
Trump faced impeachment over the riots, and in a world where Republicans had more courage, he would have been found guilty
inews.co.uk
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
“The BBC didn’t get January 6 wrong. It should be brave enough to say so. Whoever wrote the internal report seen by The Telegraph is either malign or mistaken. The way it has been weaponised to attack the BBC shows the folly of trying to appease Team Trump, or to negotiate with them in good faith.”