Tim Davie to personally respond to allegations of bias against the British corporation LONDON: The director general of the BBC is to take on oversight of the complaints unit in a significant overhaul of the broadcasting company’s complaints system. Tim Davie will personally supervise the unit due to concerns expressed by government ministers about the BBC’s handling of allegations of bias. The restructuring coincides with the impending publication of the British government’s mid-term review of the corporation’s 10-year Royal Charter, which found that only 25 bias complaints had been upheld by the executive company unit since 2017. The unit was previously overseen by David Jordan, the director of editorial policy, responsible for ensuring BBC programs and articles complied with its rules. Under the new structure, Peter Johnston, the director of editorial complaints and reviews, will directly report to Davie. The new system was expected to establish a more streamlined process to expedite complaints, addressing bureaucratic hurdles that had at times hindered the proper handling of complaints. The shake-up comes following recent complaints received by the BBC over its handling of the Israel-Hamas war as well as its refusal to label Hamas as a terrorist organization. The BBC refuted claims that it inadequately addressed complaints, asserting that many issues were resolved before reaching the ECU, which was the last of three stages available for viewers seeking recourse. Davie recently faced questions from Conservative Members of Parliament regarding the BBC’s coverage of the Gaza conflict. During the meeting, UK Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told Davie that he had “never been so disappointed” in the BBC. Earlier this month, the BBC reported that it had received more than 1,500 complaints within the first 10 days of the Israel-Hamas war, with a roughly equal split in complaints from both sides of the conflict.