25
View
comments
Jess Brammar has been appointed to a senior role within the BBC, its chairman Richard Sharp confirmed today as he insisted: 'Jess got there on merit.'
Mr Sharp told a conference in Cambridge that it was important to have 'different opinions' and people should watch Newsnight tomorrow night for more information.
He also told the Royal Television Society's convention that he was unlikely to appear on the programme himself, saying: 'I'd rather not step in front of the firing squad.'
Ms Brammar, the former UK editor of HuffPost and deputy editor of BBC Newsnight, is thought to have taken on the newly-created post of executive news editor.
Her appointment follows a toxic row over plans for her to rejoin the corporation after she was openly critical of both the Conservative Government and Brexit.
Jess Brammar is the former UK editor of HuffPost and deputy editor of BBC Newsnight
BBC news chief Fran Unsworth (left) will leave next year. Tim Davie (right) made a commitment to diversity of opinion and impartiality he made when he became director-general last year
Production staff oversee a BBC news broadcast at Broadcasting House in London (file image)
The hiring of the Left-wing journalist was criticised after she posted a series of now-deleted tweets critical of Boris Johnson, Brexit and Britain's imperial past
And it came despite objections raised by Sir Robbie Gibb, a member of the BBC board and the former director of communications for Theresa May.
