ALT Black and white photo of John McAndrew

ALT BBC STATEMENT ON ED LAWRENCE “The BBC is extremely concerned about the treatment of our journalist Ed Lawrence, who was arrested and handcuffed while covering the protests in Shanghai. He was held for several hours before being released. During his arrest, he was beaten and kicked by the police. This happened while he was working as an accredited journalist. “It is very worrying that one of our journalists was attacked in this way whilst carrying out his duties. We have had no official explanation or apology from the Chinese authorities, beyond a claim by the officials who later released him that they had arrested him for his own good in case he caught Covid from the crowd. We do not consider this a credible explanation.”

ALT “The BBC’s Persian journalists and their families in Iran have been subject to a targeted campaign of harassment for many years. “This has recently escalated, and a BBC journalist has had private family conversations unlawfully recorded and published, in a grotesque invasion of privacy. “Some are now seeking to use this to discredit the BBC’s journalism, and are making attacks on our journalists. “Let us be clear: the BBC is independent and does not take an editorial position on events in Iran. It reports what is happening. “Private conversations BBC journalists have with their families are irrelevant to our journalism. “We stand with all of our BBC Persian journalists and we stand by their journalism. We will not tolerate abuse, wherever it comes from.”

ALT “As a pioneering psephologist and the inventor of the famous 'swingometer', Sir David Butler played a hugely important role in the development and modernising of the BBC’s election coverage. Generations of BBC audiences looked to him for clear analysis and commentary. “I know that David was well liked and respected by colleagues across the BBC, who are all saddened to hear of his death. “His legacy will inspire us all to be bold and to keep innovating.”