Dear Friends,

It is with great regret that I have to tell you that this will be the last time I write as your Patron, and I want to explain why I am no longer able to continue in this role. The decision is not mine. My senior colleagues at the BBC have come to the conclusion that being the official Patron of the Fairtrade Foundation is no longer compatible with being a high-profile journalist in BBC News. They believe that Fairtrade represents a potential conflict of interest which could undermine my impartiality.

In the many years that I have been your Patron there has not been a single complaint (that I am aware of) to the BBC so you can imagine how taken aback I was by the decision. As BBC licence fee payers and supporters of Fairtrade you will, no doubt, make your own judgement.

Let me assure you that I have done my best to persuade managers at the Corporation that it ought to be possible to be both a committed supporter of Fairtrade and uphold the BBC’s hard-earned record for unbiased reporting. While other charities – some of which are approved by the BBC – ask people to donate money, the Fairtrade Foundation asks people to do their bit by spending money. That is the main difference. Fairtrade frames our relationship with people much less fortunate than ourselves in a modern and innovative way – it rejects the old ‘begging bowl’ model.

Being Patron of the Fairtrade Foundation has been a rare privilege for me. I have learnt as much as I have given. I will miss those crazy, rushed drives from church halls to market squares; from universities to photo-shoots; from town hall debates to business breakfasts; but most of all I will miss your energy, camaraderie and optimism. The BBC has not asked me to sever my ties with the Foundation entirely and so I know we will meet again. Although I may not be acting in an official role as your Patron I remain a staunch admirer of the work we do together.

With very best wishes,




George Alagiah

©Summer 2009 Fair Comment