Gibb surprise frontrunner to be new BBC chairman
Theresa May’s former communications chief now favourite for role after Moore rules himself out
A FORMER communications chief at No 10 Downing Street has emerged as a surprise frontrunner to become the new chairman of the BBC, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
Sir Robbie Gibb, who ran No 10’s press team when Theresa May was prime minister, is seen as a favourite after Lord Moore of Etchingham – who as Charles Moore is a columnist for The Daily Telegraph – made clear he would not be applying due to family reasons.
Other possible candidates include Trevor Phillips, 66, a former chairman of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission, and Sir Peter Bazalgette, the vastly experienced ITV chairman, who is expected to step down in 2022 but could leave earlier.
The new names are being touted amid suggestions that enthusiasm in Whitehall for one of three former Tory cabinet ministers – Baroness Morgan, Amber Rudd and George Osborne – has cooled, amid concerns that they might not be radical enough in the role.
The appointment of a chairman to replace Sir David Clementi when he stands down in February is a political one. Ministers are set to publish the job advertisement in the next fortnight.
Sir Robbie, a lifelong Brexiteer and former head of the BBC’S political programming, was being groomed by ministers for a non-executive position on the BBC board to provide some support for Lord Moore, had he accepted the role. However, sources said that now Lord Moore had withdrawn, the 55-year-old Tory was being encouraged to apply for the chairman’s position because of his unique knowledge of the workings of the BBC and No 10.
Sir Robbie, whose brother is Nick Gibb, the schools minister, had been advising GB News, a new rolling channel launching early next year, but stood back from that position last week. One broadcasting source said: “He is a Tory, he has worked for the government, he also knows broadcasting back to front as a BBC executive, and he is a reformer – he realises the BBC will have to change; it can’t stay as it is.”
Sir Robbie would also be seen as a potential ally for Tim Davie, the new director general, who has impressed ministers with his zeal for reform since he succeeded Lord Hall of Birkenhead last month. “If the Government wants to put somebody in to strengthen the director general’s hand with reforms, then he may be a sensible choice. He would be an ally of the DG,” the source said. “We know that when the DG and chairman are singing from the same song sheet, they usually get their way.”
Mr Phillips could be held back by his association with the Blair government two decades ago, although he has appealed to Conservatives for his strident criticism of multiculturalism.
Mr Phillips was seen as “a very good choice”, the source said, not least because it would help the corporation address complaints that it does not have enough black, Asian and minority ethnic senior executives. One source described him as “a more visible and symbolic appointment”, adding: “Trevor is hugely intelligent, has a long background in broadcasting, a Blairite, but a very moderate, sensible character. He knows the BBC has to change as well.”
Sir Peter, the veteran television executive and former chairman of the Arts Council, who has been chairman of ITV since May 2016, would fit the bill if ministers wanted someone with the knowledge to help the BBC face the digital challenge from Netflix and Google.
Sir Robbie, Mr Phillips and Sir Peter were unavailable for comment. The BBC declined to comment.