BBC pauses civil service secondment scheme

The BBC has paused its civil service secondment scheme following revelations of fact-checkers embedded in the corporation. The scheme, which has been in place for several years, allowed civil servants to work within the BBC on fact-checking projects. Coverage from The Telegraph first exposed the arrangement, sparking accusations of a breach of impartiality.

The BBC's decision to pause the scheme comes after criticism from several quarters, including The Times, which accused the corporation of using Whitehall fact-checkers. GB News has also weighed in, calling the move an 'embarrassing climbdown'. The BBC's own statement on the matter has been brief, with the corporation saying only that it is reviewing its secondment scheme.

The implications of the BBC's decision are still unclear, but the move is likely to be closely watched by those who have raised concerns about the corporation's impartiality. As the BBC reviews its secondment scheme, the question remains what changes, if any, will be made to the arrangement.