BBC has massive questions to answer over its failure to act immediately over scandal involving one of its top stars

BBC in dock

THE BBC has massive questions to answer over its failure to act immediately over the scandal involving one of its top stars — and why it kept the presenter on air.

The corporation finally took action over allegations that the presenter sent large sums to a vulnerable teenager after being contacted by The Sun last week.

But the BBC’s first contact with the youngster’s family in May does not sound like some fleeting, vague tip-off.

The parents say they spoke to staff in detail, easily enough to raise serious concern about a top presenter’s behaviour.

The family’s desperation in making the call should have been a red flag in itself.

And yet for weeks nothing happened — except, according to the parents, the star kept sending their child money.

Frustrated, they contacted us and outlined their claims in sworn affidavits. The presenter was ­suspended on Sunday.

The BBC reported that the youngster, now 20 and with a history of drug addiction, had issued a statement through expensive lawyers dismissing the parents’ allegations.

The parents stand fully by their account and say their only motivation is to protect their vulnerable child.

The BBC has a shameful record for ignoring complaints about its “talent”. Its actions now must be entirely above board.

Boat billions

THE small boats scandal doesn’t just offend against fairness, it is biting a huge chunk out of our national budget.

The total asylum bill, including hotels for illegal arrivals, is now £3.5billion a year. Triple the funds for homelessness.

Meanwhile Rishi Sunak’s claim to be cutting the numbers rings hollow when 1,339 arrive in just three days.

It is easy to blame him. But his remedy, the Illegal Migration Bill containing the Rwanda deterrent, is held up by critics in the Lords and in the courts.

Other parties offer no serious solution. And even Tory peer Ken Clarke, a pro-immigration Remainer, has had enough of them blindly opposing the PM’s Rwanda scheme. ­

Perhaps surprisingly, he supports it because “doing nothing is not an option” and “no one has advanced an alternative”. Well said.

The reality is the Left don’t consider illegal migration much of a problem.

They don’t want a deterrent — and, typically, don’t really think £3.5billion is a huge amount of public money.

Chalk up win

IT is abhorrent that men who murder partners can still wield power over their kids.

So we welcome Justice Secretary Alex Chalk backing The Sun’s campaign for a Jade’s Law to stop it.

Why should Russell Marsh, for example, serving 25 years for knifing his ex Jade Ward, be able to hold up his children’s passport applications?

Let’s get the law changed, now.