With rumours swirling about a new political appointment to be Chair of the BBC, a battle might be about to begin for the organisation’s soul.
Broadcaster Rob McLoughlin – creator of the recent Virtual Grand National and Educate North Awards – was a World In Action investigator, presented Party People on ITV Granada for a decade, a co-hosted Weekend Breakfast on 5 live.
With a new Director General stepping up, Rob explores what’s going on, and asks who fancies being the “last” Chair of the Corporation?
If you believe speculation in the Sunday Times and The Telegraph, then a prominent Conservative is about to become Chair of the BBC – with rumours naming Nicky Morgan and Amber Rudd. All names floated are worthy, all are credible and all are capable of turning ‘native’ to save the BBC from political interference – the way Chris, Lord Patten, tried to do.
But they may be enlisted to ‘shake-up’ a perceived bias – partially in the wake of the aftermath of Brexit and the Election 2019 coverage – and inability to look beyond the Westminster bubble. This, some say, led to short-sightedness around UKIP’s real impact beyond London, the potential for a Red Wall collapse, and a significant Boris Johnson majority.
Lord Patten was the last Governor of Hong Kong. Some fear there might now be a last governor of the BBC.
The Battle for the BBC?
The late Marmaduke Hussey, close to the Conservative Party; and Joel Barnett, ex-Labour Cabinet Minister, enforced a shake-up in the mid-80s and forced the resignation of a DG. That was a ‘bitter’ shake-up.
After a pause in hostilities to mark the sadness of COVID-19 – during which the corporation ripped up its schedule and showed innovation in education and beyond – it looks as if ‘The Battle For The Beeb’ is about to begin.
Unfortunately, we “don’t know where and we don’t when”. The timetable rests with Secretary of State Oliver Dowden, as he returns to his desk at the DCMS this week. The same week the new Director General Tim Davie, a BBC insider, arrives with an in-tray Joe Biden and Kamala Harris may even choose to shun.
