George's letter to the BBC Director General about Kelvin Mackenzie

Mark Thompson

Director General of the BBC

BBC Television Centre

Wood Lane

London

W12 7RT

18 December 2006

Dear Mr Thompson,

I am appealing to you to reconsider the decision by the BBC to invite Kelvin MacKenzie to present Radio Five’s news review of the year this Christmas. I understand that the Corporation’s response to complaints over this is that Mr MacKenzie provokes strong feelings for and against.

That line fails to take account of his recent admission that he did not tell the truth when he apologised for the outrageous smears printed in the Sun under his editorship about Liverpool fans at the Hillsborough disaster. It now appears that he apologised only because Rupert Murdoch forced him to and that he “was not sorry then and is not sorry now”.

These comments have caused untold distress to those who were touched by the Hillsborough tragedy, especially to the families of the 96 fans who were killed. The BBC will be making a stand for journalistic integrity and honesty if it drops MacKenzie from this programme in the wake of his cynical admission.

Yours sincerely,

George Galloway MP

As soon as we get a response, we'll add it here

Update: The BBC Director General has replied to George. Please click here to read the letter