The broadcaster called the businessman a “leading Tory supporter” in covering text messages between Sir James and Boris Johnson in March 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic when the government asked companies for help to provide fans amid fears the NHS could run out. The BBC also claimed the billionaire donated £ 11,000 to the Conservative Party.
However, the James Dyson Foundation donation was actually for the Wiltshire Engineering Festival – a schoolchildren event hosted by local MP Michelle Donelan.
In an apology on its website on Wednesday, the BBC said: ‘We accept that Sir James Dyson is not a prominent Conservative supporter, as has been stated in some of our covers of his text messages with the Prime Minister.
“The James Dyson Foundation made a charitable donation to support the Wiltshire Engineering Festival for schoolchildren.
“We accept that this does not indicate any affiliation to a political party and we want to set the record straight.”
The apologies continued: “Sir James also expressed concern about the accuracy of other aspects of our reports.
“We would like to make it clear that Sir James contacted number 10 in response to the Prime Minister’s direct request for assistance regarding the urgent need for ventilators and the incurred costs of £ 20million which his company voluntarily absorbed in trying to help with the national emergency.
“His texts to the Prime Minister were also subsequently sent to officials.
“We are sorry that these facts were not always reflected in our coverage, and we apologize for not having done so.”
READ MORE: BBC triggers line on license fees as working class ‘end of joke’
“Far from any gain, the project cost us £ 20million – an amount we have voluntarily supported.
“I’m proud of the efforts of every Dyson person who contributed and we would do the exact same thing again.
“It was deeply disappointing, for me and for the hundreds of people at Dyson who gave it their all, that our efforts to develop an emergency ventilator were poorly characterized and used for political purposes.
In April, the BBC reported text messages showing Sir James, whose company Dyson is based in Singapore, asking the Prime Minister for clarification that his staff would not have to pay additional tax if they came to the UK. United to work on the ventilation project.
The entrepreneur raised the issue with Mr Johnson after he did not receive a response from a letter to the Treasury.
Sir James said in a text the company was ready but “unfortunately” it seemed no one wanted it to continue.
The Prime Minister replied: “I’ll fix it tomorrow! We need you. It looks fantastic.”
Mr Johnson then texted him again saying, “(Chancellor) Rishi (Sunak) says it’s settled !! We need you here.”
When Sir James asked for additional assurance, the Prime Minister replied: “James, I am the First Lord of the Treasury and you can understand that we are supporting you to do what you need.”
Two weeks later, Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the Commons Treasury Committee that the tax status of people who came to the UK to provide specific assistance during the pandemic would not be affected.
More about this article: Read More
Source: feedproxy.google.com
This notice was published: 2021-05-12 18:56:00
