PM ‘blindsided’ by resignation of BBC chief
‘Stitch-up’ over departure of director-general ‘could sour relations between BBC and the Government’
BORIS JOHNSON was “blindsided” by the resignation of Lord Hall of Birkenhead, the BBC director-general, senior Tories have complained, after No 10 was given just one hour’s notice.
Lord Hall was so determined to keep his plan secret that he did not tell members of his own board when they met last month. He informed Sir David Clementi, the BBC chairman, 10 days ago at a private meeting.
Tories and industry sources said Lord Hall was prompted to quit once the scale of the Conservative landslide result became apparent, and with it the likely impact on the BBC.
A senior Tory source said the “spiky” timing of the announcement could further sour relations between the BBC and the Government ahead of negotiations about the next licence fee deal.
They warned that the BBC would be
“sensible” to discuss Lord Hall’s successor with the Government rather than make a unilateral decision.
“Given that it is an announcement of such public interest, you would have expected the Government to have a little more warning of it,” the source said.
Lord Hall had indicated that he wanted to remain until 2022, to mark the BBC’S centenary. But in the autumn, he began discussing the possibility of leaving earlier and taking over as chairman of the National Gallery.
Industry sources said he decided to leave early to ensure that Sir David, whose term as chairman ends in February 2021, would appoint a directorgeneral who would fight for the BBC.
“It is a stitch-up by the current people at the BBC, by the board ... it is quite an adroit move,” the source said. “They got an hour’s notice because it was a deliberate attempt to wrong-foot the
Government. That may play badly for the next person when they negotiate the licence and the long-term future.
“The next chair will be more of a slasher – like when Marmaduke Hussey was put in by [Margaret] Thatcher... Clementi is a pussy cat.”
Ministers are determined that the BBC will cover the cost of free television licences for the over-75s.
Tim Davie, the BBC Studios chief executive, who served as acting directorgeneral before Lord Hall’s arrival, is said to be the front-runner among internal candidates. Dame Carolyn Fairbairn of the CBI, and James Harding, the BBC former head of news, have also been tipped as contenders.
Dame Carolyn Mccall, the head of ITV, is also tipped but there was industry scepticism that she would jump ship from a position worth more than £2million in pay and bonuses to a BBC salary of £450,000 per year.
Sir Michael Lyons, the former BBC Trust chairman, said: “It needs a big personality who has experience of running a very large organisation. I think it would be absolutely appropriate to look for and find strong women candidates. But it would be a step too far to say it has to be a woman.”