Will next BBC chairman be a top Tory?

FORMER cabinet ministers Amber Rudd and Nicky Morgan are among candidates being lined up to take over as the new BBC chairman.

Andrew Neil is also in the running for the top job, according to reports.

The Prime Minister is understood to want someone who is in tune with the Government’s agenda.

He is said to be drawing up a long list of possible candidates, none of whom want to ‘blow up’ the broadcaster.

Current chairman Sir David Clementi is stepping down early next year and his replacement will be appointed by the Queen – on advice from the Government. Boris Johnson wants to ‘get on with it’ and decide on his successor by the autumn, but wants to avoid putting a ‘berserker’ in the position, sources said.

Former culture secretary Baroness Morgan and former home secretary Miss Rudd are both being considered.

They are both seen as credible within the Tory Party and in the BBC itself.

Broadcaster Mr Neil is also being considered for these reasons, according to the Sunday Times. Although he has been heavily critical of the Prime Minister in the past, Mr Neil’s years with the BBC stand him in good stead.

A senior Government source said Mr Johnson was keen for the new chairman to help the BBC be more proactive in making use of its international reputation. They said: ‘The Prime Minister believes the BBC is one of Britain’s best assets, with the soft power it projects abroad. He thinks it can do more of that.’ Miss Rudd and Mr Johnson have remained on good terms after she quit the Cabinet last year.

But her appointment would see staunch opposition from senior aides – including Dominic Cummings.

Nicky Morgan declined to comment last night. Miss Rudd and Mr Neil did not respond to a request for comment.