Exeter MP defends former BBC director general

Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has defended the former BBC director general George Entwistle who resigned amid growing criticism over a Newsnight report which wrongly implicated the former Conservative treasurer Lord McAlpine in allegations of child abuse.

Mr Bradshaw said Mr Entwistle, who will be paid a £450,000 pay off, was badly let down. In a BBC News interview Mr Bradshaw said he was also not confident anyone else would have done a better job.   Mr Bradshaw said: "I think this is a terrible mistake and I think George Entwistle has been done a real injustice. He's only been in the job seven weeks ... (and) understood what needed to be done at the BBC to sort out the total dysfunctionality that is clearly in the BBC in its news management . "He was doing that but because of the firestorm that has surrounded him, he's been forced out. "I think that's a tragedy, not just for him personally but I think it will be a very, very bad thing for the BBC as well. "I'm very worried that the BBC has come under political pressure from the government. I thought it was rather suspicious that the culture secretary issued a statement almost immediately following the resignation saying it was the right thing. "George Entwistle has been badly let down by BBC news managers and the people around him... the BBC should have given him time and I'm not confident anyone else would have been able to do a better job."