Tim Davie today, writing to the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee Chairman Caroline Dinenage:
“I’d like to make clear: although the racial slur was symptomatic of a disability and an involuntary tic, it should never have been broadcast. It was a genuine mistake, and we take full responsibility for our error.”
On why the slur ever made it to broadcast, given the two-hour tape delay:
“…initial evidence gathering has found that no-one in the on-site broadcast truck heard this when they were watching the live feed.”
That’s at least one more calamity for Davie to apologise for before standing down as Director-General next month. Will it be the last? There’s still plenty of time…
Andy Haldane, Burnham’s recent adviser on the economy who has not taken up a No10 job, told Andrew Marr on LBC:
“The market now suspects that this is a traditional tax-and-spend socialist government with better TikTok videos…
imposing windfall taxes on oil & gas or on banks or upping capital gains tax would […] repeat the mistake that Rachel made […] The Achilles heel, the fiscal Achilles heel of this government thus far has been its unwillingness and/or inability to cut public spending.”