Keir Starmer found himself in the eye of a political storm last night as he prepared for a critical phone call with former US President Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister’s challenge: persuade Trump not to pursue a staggering $5 billion lawsuit against the BBC, a move that critics say would hit the British taxpayer hard.
The dispute stems from the broadcaster’s repeated airing of doctored footage of Trump’s speech prior to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
While the BBC has issued an apology, it has firmly declined to pay compensation—prompting Trump to ramp up his original $1 billion threat to a potential $5 billion claim.
BBC’s Legal Defense Focuses on Geography
Behind the scenes, BBC lawyers have argued that the network has no real exposure to a US court.
Their position hinges on a key point: the Panorama program at the center of the controversy was geo-blocked and could not be accessed by American viewers.
According to reports, the BBC also highlighted that Trump went on to win the election, meaning the broadcast could not have inflicted “overwhelming reputational harm.”
Described by insiders as a “robust” defense, this approach underscores the network’s confidence that Trump’s legal claim has little merit.
Political Voices Rally Behind the BBC
Across the political spectrum, leaders and commentators have voiced support for Starmer and the BBC, urging them to resist what many are calling “playground bully tactics.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp spoke candidly to BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg: “We all work hard and pay our licence fee.
I don’t think sending some of it over to Mar-a-Lago would be a smart thing to do.”
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey added, “The idea that the head of a foreign government, an ally of our country, could undermine our public institutions and media is quite outrageous.
Millions of licence fee payers will be shocked that Donald Trump is coming to pick their pocket.”
The Controversial Edit at the Heart of the Row
The BBC controversy centers on a spliced edit that made it appear Trump had incited violence during the Capitol riot—a misleading portrayal drawn from two separate clips.
A similar edit also appeared on Newsnight in 2022.
The scandal prompted BBC chairman Samir Shah to send a personal apology to the White House, while Director-General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned in the fallout.
Trump Pushes for Massive Damages
On Friday night, Trump confirmed his intention to pursue up to $5 billion (£3.8 billion) in damages, claiming the BBC had “admitted that they cheated… they changed the words coming out of my mouth.”
Despite the threat, some media figures remain skeptical.
Former BBC presenter Nicholas Owen told GB News, “I’d be a bit surprised if he goes ahead with the legal thing.
He is always a playground bully.”
Media lawyer Mark Stephens echoed the sentiment on ITV News: “Of course he can start a court case, but you’ve then got to have legal merit, and the programme just wasn’t broadcast in America.”
What Comes Next
Starmer’s call with Trump will be closely watched, as will any further legal action.
While the BBC has mounted a strong defense and won support from politicians and media lawyers, the situation continues to unfold, leaving both public trust and taxpayer money in the spotlight.
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