The culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has demanded to know why no one at the BBC has lost their job over the airing of a documentary on Gaza that featured the son of a Hamas official.
A review looking into the broadcast of Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone is reportedly due to be published next week. The programme first aired in February, but was pulled by the broadcaster after the link between its 13-year-old narrator and Hamas emerged.
“I have been very clear that people must be held accountable for the decisions that were taken,” Nandy told the Times on Saturday. “I have asked the question to the board [of the BBC]. Why has nobody been fired?
“What I want is an explanation as to why not. If it is a sackable offence then obviously that should happen. But if the BBC, which is independent, considers that it is not, I think what all parliamentarians want to know is why.”
The review is being led by Peter Johnston, the director of the independent editorial complaints and reviews body that reports directly to the BBC’s director general. It is expected to determine whether any editorial guidelines were broken, and whether any disciplinary action is needed. The BBC will also undertake a full audit of expenditure on the programme.
Nandy described feeling “exasperated” as she called for an “adequate explanation from the BBC about what has happened”, adding: “I have not had that from the chair or director general yet.”
The review led the corporation to delay and then pull entirely another documentary from the region, Gaza: Doctors under Attack, which has since been broadcast on Channel 4.
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Nandy said the BBC had to “get a grip” after the livestreamed Glastonbury performance from the punk rap duo Bob Vylan. The group have been dropped by several music events since the singer Bobby Vylan led crowds in chants of “death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]” during their set at the festival last Saturday. The performance is being investigated by police.
“The BBC leadership have got to get a grip on it,” Nandy said. “It makes me angry on behalf of the BBC staff and the whole creative industries in this country. Particularly the Jewish community, who deserved far better than what happened at the weekend. Action has to be forthcoming.”
Bob Vylan, who are known for addressing political issues in their music, including racism, masculinity and class, have claimed they are being “targeted for speaking up”. The group have been vocal advocates for Palestinian rights and also led crowds in chants of “Free Palestine” during their set.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The findings of the review will be published as soon as possible. As we have said previously, it is vital that this work is done as quickly as possible, but it must also be thorough and follow a proper process.”
The broadcaster has previously said: “We fully understand the strength of feeling regarding Bob Vylan’s live appearance at Glastonbury on the BBC. We deeply regret that such offensive and deplorable behaviour appeared on the BBC and want to apologise to our viewers and listeners and in particular the Jewish community. We are also unequivocal that there can be no place for antisemitism at, or on, the BBC.”