Porta-Beeb
I agree with Matt that Robert Harris' latest column on the BBC is excellent and it's a reminder of something that I suspect others as well as me have forgotten - the role of Chairman of the BBC is an important one for the Corporation. It may seem obvious to state that, but it's been forgotten over the last ten years or so as the BBC has recently had two pretty dominant figures as Directors-General in Birt and Dyke, but they're a break from the norm for DGs.
Given the candidates that have been suggested for DG (my guess would be it'll probably be Abramsky or Byford), it seems unlikely that the next occupant of the job is going to seek to make any wholesale changes in the style of Birt or Dyke. Indeed, after all the work Dyke has done to expand the BBC, much of the new DG's work is going to be concerned with the new digital and online services that were created under Dyke, rather than seeking new areas to expand in. Unlike Birt and Dyke, the new DG is likely to be a much more behind the scenes figure, leaving the Chairman to be more of the public face of the corporation, restoring the old Beeb status quo between the two positions rather than the 90s version.
In short, the issue of who becomes the new Chairman is of fundamental importance to the future of the BBC, not least because of their role in appointing the next DG but also because they'll set the tone for the organisation as a whole and, as Harris points out, that can infiltrate the rest of the media. One thinks that Blair must be sorely tempted to install John Birt in there, but I'm sure that even he would recognise it for a very bad idea.
More and more, I'm coming to the strange conclusion that, out of the candidates suggested, Michael Portillo is looking like the best option for the BBC. All the suggested candidates are 'Establishment' in some way or other, even Dimbleby, and one wonders how much any of them would stand up to Government pressure rather than buckling and not wanting to make a scene. To me, Portillo seems like the person who wouldn't give way just to make things easy for himself. Unlike Patten, another Conservative who's been linked with the job, Portillo has moved towards the centre in his political views, but he hasn't seemed to revise his opinion of New Labour at all, even as he approaches them.
Of course, it could be that all his post-1997 mellowing has been a ruse and as soon as he gets control of the Beeb he'll either close it or turn it into a right-wing propaganda factory, but it'll be an interesting time anyway. Plus, the political junkies out there have got to be having some sweaty palms at the possibility of a by-election in Kensington and Chelsea.
Given the candidates that have been suggested for DG (my guess would be it'll probably be Abramsky or Byford), it seems unlikely that the next occupant of the job is going to seek to make any wholesale changes in the style of Birt or Dyke. Indeed, after all the work Dyke has done to expand the BBC, much of the new DG's work is going to be concerned with the new digital and online services that were created under Dyke, rather than seeking new areas to expand in. Unlike Birt and Dyke, the new DG is likely to be a much more behind the scenes figure, leaving the Chairman to be more of the public face of the corporation, restoring the old Beeb status quo between the two positions rather than the 90s version.
In short, the issue of who becomes the new Chairman is of fundamental importance to the future of the BBC, not least because of their role in appointing the next DG but also because they'll set the tone for the organisation as a whole and, as Harris points out, that can infiltrate the rest of the media. One thinks that Blair must be sorely tempted to install John Birt in there, but I'm sure that even he would recognise it for a very bad idea.
More and more, I'm coming to the strange conclusion that, out of the candidates suggested, Michael Portillo is looking like the best option for the BBC. All the suggested candidates are 'Establishment' in some way or other, even Dimbleby, and one wonders how much any of them would stand up to Government pressure rather than buckling and not wanting to make a scene. To me, Portillo seems like the person who wouldn't give way just to make things easy for himself. Unlike Patten, another Conservative who's been linked with the job, Portillo has moved towards the centre in his political views, but he hasn't seemed to revise his opinion of New Labour at all, even as he approaches them.
Of course, it could be that all his post-1997 mellowing has been a ruse and as soon as he gets control of the Beeb he'll either close it or turn it into a right-wing propaganda factory, but it'll be an interesting time anyway. Plus, the political junkies out there have got to be having some sweaty palms at the possibility of a by-election in Kensington and Chelsea.
Nick got away with this at 5:08 PM
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