Reform UK’s Nigel Farage says BBC ‘infected with left-wing bias’

Nigel Farage has accused the BBC of left-wing bias because the organisation’s interim director of nations previously worked for Plaid Cymru.

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 has been director of BBC Wales since 2021. She is currently interim director for the nations.

“Rhuanedd has always been open about her career history and is wholly committed to upholding the impartiality of the BBC.”

Ms Richards started her career as a journalist with BBC Wales and subsequently moved into government and politics, becoming 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, as director of nations, in June this year.