Mrs May’s first scalp: She forces BBC chief to quit
THE chairman of the BBC Trust dramatically resigned last night after Theresa May forced her to reapply for her own job.
Rona Fairhead had been confirmed in her £110,000 a year post over-seeing the Corporation by the then prime minister David Cameron during a controversial behindclosed doors meeting in May.
But – determined there should be an open contest to find the best candidate – Mrs May overruled the decision. Mrs Fairhead was invited to apply – but refused and last night marched out in apparent protest.
Her decision – made public only a day before ministers publish plans for a major shake-up of the BBC – is another sign of the way Mrs May is stamping her authority on the Government.
Other Cameron decisions that she has unpicked in recent weeks include his childhood obesity strategy, deficit reduction plan and opposition to new grammar schools.
MPs welcomed the news – saying it was ‘not before time’. They are now likely to press Mrs May to appoint a BBC chairman committed to cutting costs and ensuring its impartiality.
Mrs Fairhead said last night that she had decided not to re-enter the process, claiming she had always aimed to return to a job in the private sector in 2018. She will continue to be chairman of the BBC Trust until the body is scrapped in early 2017 and replaced by a ‘unitary board’ which will minister strongly encouraged decide policy by consensus – me to take part in the new part of the government’s charappointment process, for what ter review. would be a new four-year term
‘I took on leadership of the as BBC chairman. However…it Trust to help stabilise, is my belief that it will be better strengthen and develop the BBC to have a clean break.’ following a very difficult period Mrs Fairhead had been in its history and through Charallowed to move directly from ter Review,’ she said. ‘I am proud chairman of the BBC Trust to of what I and my colleagues, lead the new board. One person both at the Trust and the BBC, involved in the negotiations have accomplished. The prime said that she persuaded Mr Cameron to give her the succesor role, partly by emphasising her existing contract, according to the FT. A BBC Trust source told the paper her appointment was ‘quite extraordinary’.
A report published by MPs of the culture, media and sport select committee at the start of August, was extremely critical of the decision. It said: ‘We do not believe — even if one were to regard the offer of the post to Mrs Fairhead as a reappointment rather than a new appointment – that it would be appropriate for any minister, including the prime minister, simply to offer her the job.’
Mr Cameron’s government argued that her appointment would ensure a smooth transition.
But it was not the first time she had faced harsh criticism from Westminster. Margaret Hodge, as chairman of the public accounts committee, told her in 2015: ‘You should think about resigning and, if not, the government should sack you.’
The criticism partly came from her role as a non- executive director of HSBC at the time the bank admitted a role in money-laundering.
Culture Secretary Karen Bradley will today publish a draft charter setting out how the
‘Not a fit person’
BBC will be run from the start of 2017. The document follows the publication in May of the Government’s white paper which announced a series of reforms, including the scrapping of the BBC Trust and the appointment of Ofcom as the new regulator.
The Conservative MP Damien Collins, chairman of the culture select committee, welcomed the Government’s decision on the new board’s chairman.
He said: ‘Our concern was always that the job of running the Trust and running the board were two very different things.’
Last night Dame Margaret told the Mail Miss Fairhead’s exit was ‘not before time’. She added: ‘I remain convinced her record at HSBC meant she was not a fit person to protect licence fee payers interests.’
BBC Director General Tony Hall, said: ‘Rona has made a real contribution to BBC and at a really important time for us.’