BBC Apologizes After Airing False Claim Linking Tony Blair‘s Son’s Company to Digital ID Scheme
LONDON – The BBC has removed an episode of have I Got News For You from its iPlayer streaming service adn issued an apology after host Victoria Coren incorrectly stated that Multiverse, a company founded by Euan Blair (son of former Prime Minister Tony Blair), was involved in developing the government’s new digital ID scheme.
The inaccurate claim, which Coren described as a “happy coincidence,” was debunked earlier this week by the independent fact-checking association Full Fact. Multiverse does not develop software; it focuses on providing apprenticeship programs and training in AI and technology.
Both Multiverse and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) have explicitly denied any involvement.”There is no truth” to the claims, a DSIT spokesperson stated. PoliticsHome reports that no contracts have yet been awarded for the scheme, which remains in its early stages and will be subject to public consultation later this year.
According to PoliticsHome, the government anticipates the digital ID scheme will be designed, built, and operated by an in-house team, not outsourced to external suppliers, despite some media speculation about potential opportunities for tech firms.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed the error to PoliticsHome,stating: “This week’s have I Got News for You contained an inaccurate story about Euan Blair’s company,multiverse,being chosen to develop the government’s contract to produce digital ID cards. Multiverse is not a software developer and there is no evidence of any involvement in the proposed digital ID scheme, thus we have taken the episode off BBC iPlayer while we edit the relevant section out. We apologise for this unintentional editorial oversight.”
The false claim had already gained traction on social media prior to the broadcast, with attendees at the labor Party conference in Liverpool reporting they had encountered the misinformation. PoliticsHome noted multiple individuals had the claim repeated to them by family, friends, and even taxi drivers.
DSIT is now planning to increase its communication efforts surrounding the digital ID scheme to address the spread of misinformation, following criticism regarding the initial rollout’s lack of clarity.
“Claims that Multiverse has been chosen to develop the Government’s digital ID app are false,” reiterated a DSIT spokesperson. “No decisions have been made on its delivery,but we expect it to be designed,built,and run by in-house government teams - not outsourced to external suppliers.”
