Reform UK’s Nigel Farage accuses BBC of left-wing bias over director’s former role

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has accused the BBC of left-wing bias because of the previous employment of its interim director of nations.

Rhuanedd Richards, became director of Wales in 2021, and took up the interim position in June 2025. She is a former chief executive of Plaid Cymru.

Farage’s comments come after the resignations of BBC director general Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness, over an edit on the Panorama programme of a speech by President Trump.

A spokesperson for the BBC said Ms Richards had not hidden her background and was committed to the BBC’s “impartial standards”.

In a video message posted on X, Mr Farage said: “Rhuanedd Richards was the chief executive of Plaid.

“She worked during the Labour-Plaid coalition for the government of Wales.

“She’s now a director of BBC Wales, on just over £190,000 a year.

“There is living proof that, right the way through to the top, the BBC is infected with left-wing bias.”

A BBC spokesperson said: “Rhuanedd Richards has worked for the BBC since 2018 and as BBC Wales director since 2021. She is acting director for the nations at present.

“Rhuanedd has not hidden her professional background and she is completely committed to maintaining the impartial standards of the BBC”.

Ms Richards started her career as a journalist with BBC Wales and was Plaid’s chief executive between 2011 and 2016.

She returned to the BBC in 2018, becoming director – or head of – BBC Wales in 2021.

She took up her current interim role in June this year.