John Whittingdale: BBC management failure 'at every level'

The chairman of the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee has described what he calls a "failure of management at every level" in the BBC.

John Whittingdale made the comment after BBC Newsnight ran a story which wrongly accused a former Tory politician of sex abuse.

BBC director general George Entwistle said it should never have aired and gave an unreserved apology to Lord McAlpine after it wrongly led to him being implicated in abuse at care homes in Wales.

Mr Entwistle, the BBC's editor-in-chief, said he was not aware of the episode until after it was broadcast.

Mr Whittingdale said the incident would dent people's confidence in the BBC.

He added: "How on earth was this allowed to happen?"