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Newsnight could air Savile footage as Leveson urged to investigate the BBC

By Press Gazette

BBC director of editorial pollicy David Jordan has said child abuse allegations first gathered by Newsnight ten months ago could now be aired.

He told the BBC News Channel: "I can't see why it couldn't be broadcast in some way or another. If the women concerned who have given the evidence want it to happen I'm sure it could happen."

At least ten women have now gone on the record to say Savile abused them as youngsters: six on the ITV documetary and four further individuals who have come forward since then. They include two women who claim they were raped by Savile, one of whom said she later had to have an abortion at 16.

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Anne Main has witten to Lord Justice Leveson suggesting he should investigate the BBC's conduct over the Savile affair.

She said that allegations of a culture of silence at the BBC were "very serious" and "at the very least of the same level of gravity levelled at some newspaper groups about which your inquiry has heard extensive and lengthy evidence".

She said that given that he is considering statutory regulation of the press, "it begs the question the impact that statutory regulation has had on he BBC".

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