Tangled tale of an editor, the LSE, an EC bigwig, a billionaire and a cruise

A senior manager at the BBC has accused the London School of Economics of a "conflict of interest" over its links with a Greek business magnate.

Bill Hayton, who manages the BBC World Service's 12 European language services, told The Times Higher this week that he was prevented from raising questions relating to the Greek billionaire, Spiro Latsis, at a public lecture hosted by the LSE.

He later learnt that Mr Latsis is a member of the LSE's board of governors and is a prominent funder of, and adviser to, its contemporary Greek studies centre, the Hellenic Observatory. The observatory's director, Kevin Featherstone, chaired the conference.

Mr Hayton, Europe region planning editor the BBC World Service, said: "The BBC and other media organisations rely heavily on academics, whom they assume to be disinterested observers of current affairs, to provide comment and analysis. So it is worrying when you find out that an academic or department, or even a whole institution, appears to be compromised by its fundraising activities."

Mr Hayton was invited, as a journalist, by the LSE to attend a public lecture on global aid given by the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, on May 20. Mr Hayton said that he asked Mr Barroso about a motion of censure he was due to face in May in the European Parliament in connection with a holiday he had enjoyed on Mr Latsis's yacht. Mr Barroso was accused of wrongdoing because Mr Latsis's businesses receive Commission grants and because Mr Barroso had previously overseen shipping, a field in which Mr Latsis has considerable interests.

But Mr Hayton said Professor Featherstone declared his question "out of order", ruling that Mr Barroso should not answer it.

Mr Barroso denied any wrongdoing, saying that the cruise had been private and not connected to his job and, in the event, the motion of censure against him was heavily defeated in the European Parliament.

Mr Hayton told The Times Higher : "I regarded the question as legitimate, given Mr Barroso had just been speaking on the importance of good governance."

Mr Latsis was made an honorary fellow of the LSE in 2002. He is a member of its campaign to raise £100 million in donations, which was launched in 2001.

A university spokeswoman issued a formal statement on behalf of Professor Featherstone: "This was a public lecture on aid and development for about 450 people. As chairman, I was trying to keep the questions related to the topic under discussion. I did not rule the question out of order but said I did not feel President Barroso necessarily had to reply. In the event, he did respond so no answer was denied."

But Mr Hayton said Professor Featherstone had allowed questions on other topics, including one on the Commission's relationship with the European Parliament and another on the manager of the Chelsea football team."

Pressed further on questions he had allowed, Professor Featherstone issued a second statement.

"What is the precise grievance? I did not rule the question out of order. I gave the speaker the option of not answering - for reasons of trying to keep to the theme and to keep to the spirit of a public lecture with an invited guest. It was not a press conference.

"In any event, the speaker chose to answer. So what exactly was denied and what freedom was curtailed? The complaint is specious."

Mr Hayton said: "Mr Barroso did give a brief answer in which he said the allegations were made by populists trying to stir up trouble. He didn't answer my question."

phil.baty@thes.co.uk