THE man tasked with leading an investigation into the appointment of Tory donor Richard Sharp as the BBC chair has dropped out.
William Shawcross, the commissioner for public appointments, had been due to examine whether the process which saw the Boris Johnson ally handed the top role at the broadcaster was up to standard.
However, reports in the press highlighted his extremely close ties to Rishi Sunak’s Downing Street, where his daughter heads up the policy unit.
In a letter published on the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments website on Monday, Shawcross announced he would step back from leading the probe.
He claimed he had made the decision because he had “met Mr Sharp on previous occasions”.
Shawcross went on: “I have decided to recuse myself from this particular investigation. I will be delegating my powers as Commissioner under the 2019 Order in Council to an independent person who will be appointed by my office for this one investigation.
“They will have sole responsibility and will be supported by my officials.”
He added that he would continue in all his other responsiblities as commissioner for public appointments.
It comes after The Sunday Times revealed that Sharp had facilitated a loan to the then-Tory leader Johnson before his appointment to the top BBC role in 2021.
He had connected Johnson with Sam Blyth, a multimillionaire Canadian businessman who acted as guarantor for a loan of £800,000 to the disgraced former prime minister.
Sharp has also asked the nominations committee of the BBC’s board to look at the matter.
He has previously donated more than £400,000 to the Tory Party.
