Claims extracted
18
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
6%
1 of 18 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
68/100
BBC News's corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
- Published
Ian Thomas, chief executive of the City of London Corporation, has been named the UK's most influential Black Briton in this year's Black Powerlist awards.
asserted
Thomas → publish → awards
The 57-year old is the first Black person to oversee the Square Mile's governing body in its more than 900-year history.
asserted
old → oversee → history
The City of London Corporation is an administrative body with responsibility for London's central financial district, headed by its own Lord Mayor.
asserted
Corporation → head → Mayor
Thomas tops the 2027 Black Powerlist, which recognises the most powerful people of African and Caribbean heritage in the UK.
asserted
which → top → UK
The award body said he was "a respected public-service leader with over 30 years' experience in local government".
asserted
he → say → government
Other influential names in this year's top ten include entrepreneurs Emma Grede and Steven Bartlett, as well as actor and filmmaker Sir Idris Elba.
asserted
names → include → entrepreneurs
Comedian Sir Lenny Henry has also been recognised, with a Lifetime Achievement award, for co-founding Comic Relief, which has raised over £1.6bn since 1985.
asserted
which → recognise → 1985
Now in its 21st year, the Black Powerlist celebrates people who have broken through barriers to reach leadership roles, thereby inspiring future generations.
asserted
who → celebrate → generations
"It exists to show young people of African and Caribbean heritage what is possible, in fields they might never have considered," said Michael Eboda, the list's publisher.
uncertain
Eboda → exist → fields
Thomas said he secured the role at the head of the City of London Corporation in 2022 only following seven interviews and an election.
asserted
he → say → interviews
'When I started my journey in public service, I never, ever thought, [not] in a million years, that I'd be recognised in this way," he told the BBC.
asserted
he → start → BBC
As chief executive, he oversees around 5,000 staff with responsibilities including the City of London Police, 11,000 acres of open spaces such as Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath, and advocacy for the UK's financial and professional services sector.
asserted
he → oversee → sector
Thomas was born in Sheffield to parents who made the city their home after leaving Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation.
asserted
city → bear → generation
"They worked incredibly hard and instilled that sense of discipline and respect, and that's the core of how I do business," he said of his upbringing.
Growing up, Thomas aspired to be a footballer and took part in trials alongside Alan Shearer.
asserted
Thomas → work → Shearer
Reflecting on his own change of direction, Thomas joked it was about "following dreams and if they don't come true… there's always something else".
asserted
they → reflect → dreams
Before joining the City of London Corporation, Thomas served as chief executive of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames where he oversaw public services and a £1.2bn regeneration programme.
asserted
he → join → services
He was appointed a CBE in the 2019 New Year Honours in the wake of the Rotherham Abuse scandal for transforming children's services during his time as strategic director for children and young people at Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.
asserted
He → appoint → Council
Thomas replaces last year's incumbent, Afua Kyei, the Bank of England's chief financial officer and executive director, and is joined on this year's list by Comfort Ero, the President and chief executive of the International Crisis Group, who takes second place.
asserted
who → replace → place
The Aporia
