Letter from Harriet Harman to Sajid Javid on the appointments procedure for the Chair of the BBC Trust

Harriet Harman MP, Labour’s Deputy Leader and Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, has today written to Sajid Javid about the appointments procedure for the new Chair of the BBC Trust.

Full text below:

Dear Sajid

The sudden departure of the Chris Patten as Chair of the BBC Trust on health grounds presents you with the significant task of appointing his successor sooner than planned.

The Chair of the BBC Trust is an important role and I hope you agree with me that it is imperative that the appointment must be made on merit and not on party political lines.

There are different views about the role of the BBC within our political parties, but it is vital that the BBC gets the best person for the job who will fulfil their responsibilities in the best interests of the organisation and the licence fee payers.  It must be an appointment that commands confidence and attracts widespread approval if that person is to take the BBC forward.

This is a critical time for the BBC. The organisation is working hard to learn lessons from the horrific behaviour uncovered by the Savile scandal and seeking to address issues around executive pay as well as grappling with the demands of an ever changing technological landscape.

Despite these considerable challenges, the BBC remains the most trusted news organisation in Britain and is one of our most loved cultural institutions. It is such an important organisation that is imperative to avoid any perception of considerations of party politics, particularly ahead of a general election and ahead of charter renewal. 

In that spirit, I hope that you will conduct an appointments process which is consensual.

  • When do you plan to start the appointments process?
  • How long do you envisage the appointments process taking?
  • Will the DCMS publish a clear process and timetable for the selection?
  • How many people do you hope to shortlist?
  • Will the Prime Minister have the final decision?
  •  

I would be happy to discuss this with you in person. My office has been in touch to arrange a meeting.

Yours sincerely

 

Harriet Harman MP

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party

Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary