• Shumeet Banerji resigns from BBC board over governance issues.
• His departure follows criticisms related to editing Donald Trump's speech.
• Banerji stated he was not consulted on key decisions affecting the board.
• The BBC has faced backlash and scrutiny regarding its editorial practices.
• Banerji's resignation comes just weeks before the end of his term.

Shumeet Banerji, an independent director on the BBC's board, has resigned, citing significant concerns over governance issues within the organization. The resignation comes shortly after the controversial editing of a speech by former President Donald Trump led to heightened scrutiny of the BBC's editorial practices. Banerji expressed that he was "not consulted" regarding the recent departures of Director General Tim Davie and Chief Executive of BBC News Deborah Turness, who resigned on November 9 amidst public outcry, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The controversy centers around a Panorama episode that edited segments of Trump's January 6, 2021, speech, creating a misleading impression of his remarks that day. Banerji's resignation letter noted his dissatisfaction with the governance at the BBC following these incidents, underscoring a climate of unrest at the organization. Despite the BBC's public apology for the editing error, it has stated there is "no legal basis" for Trump's claims of defamation, according to India Times and Reuters.

Banerji, who had served as a non-executive director since 2022, highlighted the need for accountability within the BBC, particularly as it faces allegations of systemic bias. His resignation follows ongoing discussions about the BBC's coverage of sensitive topics, as indicated by plans for the board to testify before the Culture Media and Sport Committee, according to India Times and Al Jazeera.