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Sir Michael defends the BBC Trust Sir Michael defends the BBC Trust
(30 minutes later)
BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons has hit back at culture secretary Ben Bradshaw's comments that the BBC Trust should eventually be scrapped.BBC chairman Sir Michael Lyons has hit back at culture secretary Ben Bradshaw's comments that the BBC Trust should eventually be scrapped.
On Wednesday Mr Bradshaw said he was "concerned" about the BBC's regulatory body, adding it could not be both "regulator and cheerleader".On Wednesday Mr Bradshaw said he was "concerned" about the BBC's regulatory body, adding it could not be both "regulator and cheerleader".
Sir Michael said the trust's role is important and he "does not accept that characterisation" of the organisation. But speaking to BBC Radio 4, Sir Michael said he "does not accept that characterisation" of the trust.
He added that it is the "eyes, ears and voice of the licence fee payer". He added that it was the "eyes, ears and voice of the licence fee payer".
Sir Michael told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the trust is there "to reshape the BBC for public interest and to protect its independence". Speaking on the Today programme, Sir Michael insisted that the trust was there "to reshape the BBC for public interest and to protect its independence".
'Right balance''Right balance'
In a speech at the Royal Television Society in Cambridge, Mr Bradshaw voiced his concerns about the role of the trust. Mr Bradshaw raised his concerns in a speech to the Royal Television Society in Cambridge on Tuesday.
Ben Bradshaw said it was right to debate the BBC's sizeBen Bradshaw said it was right to debate the BBC's size
"I am concerned about the regulatory structure of the BBC. I don't think that it is a sustainable model in the long term," he said."I am concerned about the regulatory structure of the BBC. I don't think that it is a sustainable model in the long term," he said.
Sir Michael also said that the BBC is "just like any other company in the country" in trying to make sure the "managers are focused on the interest of the share holders." Sir Michael replied that the BBC was "just like any other company in the country" in trying to make sure the "managers are focused on the interest of the share holders."
He added: "That's exactly the job that the trust is here to do, except our shareholders are the people who pay the licence fee. So there's no question here about trying to get the right balance."He added: "That's exactly the job that the trust is here to do, except our shareholders are the people who pay the licence fee. So there's no question here about trying to get the right balance."
Mr Bradshaw, a former BBC journalist, has already clashed with the BBC since becoming Culture Secretary in June. Mr Bradshaw, a former BBC journalist, has clashed with the BBC since becoming Culture Secretary in June.
He supports plans to use part of the TV licence fee to fund regional ITV news, a move known as "top-slicing", which BBC management is opposed to.He supports plans to use part of the TV licence fee to fund regional ITV news, a move known as "top-slicing", which BBC management is opposed to.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
When Sir Michael was asked about the relationship between the BBC and the government was like, he said: "The BBC would always want to co-operate with the government of the day. When Sir Michael was asked about the relationship between the BBC and the government, he said: "The BBC would always want to co-operate with the government of the day.
"And as far as I'm concerned we continue to do that, but we start from the position of not feeling that we've got to keep ministers happy.""And as far as I'm concerned we continue to do that, but we start from the position of not feeling that we've got to keep ministers happy."
He also suggested that part of the problem was the trust had the "temerity to go to the public, to ask their views about some government proposals and we've come up with answers which the ministers don't like". He also suggested that the government had taken issue with the trust because it had the "temerity to go to the public, to ask their views about some government proposals and we've come up with answers which the ministers don't like".