Slightly irritated by these claims we've been mislead by the BBC.

As I see it it all boils down to reports where the reporter claimed "I've been speaking to type of person X who said...", and "there have been allegations that...". Now if that isn't patently obvious that the BBC is passing on the word of one man, who may or may not be telling the truth, the government has a low opinion of the intelect of the general public.