BBC has shown ‘leak and launch’ tactics work to destabilise it, ex-board member says

Shumeet Banerji said the BBC’s reaction to the leaked memo accusing it of bias had effectively given encouragement to its enemies. Photograph: The India Today Group/Getty Images

The actions of the BBC’s board have shown the broadcaster’s enemies that a “leak and launch” tactic can succeed in destabilising the corporation, according to a board member who resigned after a row over alleged bias.

Shumeet Banerji, a tech industry investor, quit the board on Friday after stating he felt he had not been properly consulted on the events that led up to the sudden departure of director general Tim Davie and the head of BBC News, Deborah Turness.