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Allegations that a BBC reporter made false claims to get a sensational interview with Princess Diana are “deeply disturbing” and should be urgently investigated, a Westminster watchdog chief told Sky News.
Conservative MP Julian Knight spoke after further allegations were made about the conduct of then Panorama reporter Martin Bashir, about how he managed to win the trust of the Princess of Wales and get her to appear on the top news program.
Mr. Knight, chair of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: “This is a very complex and deeply disturbing story and it is important for public confidence in BBC journalism that a thorough, urgent investigation be conducted. and independent, and my commission will follow developments very closely.
Martin Bashir 57, is “seriously ill” due to complications related to COVID-19
The BBC has already apologized for Bashir forging two bank statements to obtain his exclusive bombshell in 1995, which sent shockwaves through the monarchy with his comments on the status of his marriage.
But now Diana’s brother Earl Spencer has shared notes from his meeting with Bashir and Diana in 1995 with the Daily Mail.
He says the notes are contemporary and document a series of false claims allegedly made by the journalist.
This included the false allegations that Diana was under surveillance; that her bodyguard was plotting against her and that close friends were betraying her; and that MI6 had recorded Prince Charles and his private secretary planning the “final game”.
Apparently they were designed to play on the paranoia of the princess, who feared being deceived by her assistants and in-laws.
While Earl Spencer told The Mail he concluded that Bashir was a playmaker and apologized to his sister for wasting his time, unbeknownst to him, Diana stayed in touch with Bashir and two months after the explosive interview “there are three of us in this marriage “was broadcast.
Earl Spencer said the BBC was “unable to honestly face the ugly truth of this matter”
This month marks the 25th anniversary of the program which was seen by 23 million people and led to the Queen ordering Charles and Diana to file for divorce.
Bashir, 57, and now a religious editor of the BBC, is seriously ill with COVID-related complications and is unable to respond to the earl’s allegations, the company said.
In a series of tweets posted earlier this week, Earl Spencer said the broadcaster was “unable to honestly face the ugly truth of this matter.”
After the latest revelations, he posted a photo of himself and Diana as children with a protective arm around him.
The BBC said it will investigate the earl’s latest allegations but reportedly would like an independent investigation.
The company’s investigation examined claims that Bashir had used fake financial documents, purporting to show that a then-staff member of the earl was leaking stories, as a way to get the princess to speak up.
The BBC claims there is a written note from Diana – although she no longer has a copy – stating that she had not seen the fake bank statements and that they played no part in her decision to give the interview.
The company has already said in a statement that Bashir admitted commissioning the mock bank documents and it was understood that the reporter “hurt” at the end of the trial, but it is unknown what penalty, if any, he faced.
In a previous statement, a BBC spokesperson highlighted the apology the Earl received from his general manager for the falsified documents.
He said: “The BBC has apologized. We are happy to repeat these apologies. And even if this happened a quarter of a century ago, we will absolutely, robustly and fairly, investigate material new information.
“We asked Earl Spencer to share more information with the BBC.
“Unfortunately, we are currently hampered by the simple fact that we are unable to discuss any of this with Martin Bashir, as he is seriously ill.
“When he is well, we will obviously have an investigation into these new problems.”
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