Sharp claimed the breach was “inadvertent and not material,” but said he was resigning to “prioritise the interests of the BBC.” He had previously denied involvement in the arrangement, or the existence of a conflict of interest as the loan happened before his appointment as head of the public broadcaster. Adam Heppinstall’s report however found Sharp “failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest” to the cross-party panel of MPs which advised ministers on who to appoint.
” The former banker had been under pressure to resign after it was reported he acted as a middleman when Johnson was looking to secure the loan, weeks before the then-PM appointed Sharp to his post in 2021. Sharp told lawmakers in February he “didn’t arrange the loan,” suggesting he acted as a “sort of introduction agency.