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Council expert named BBC chairman New BBC chairman pledges quality
(about 2 hours later)
Sir Michael Lyons, a former market trader and council chief executive, has been named the new BBC chairman. Sir Michael Lyons, a former council chief executive and market trader, has been named the new chairman of the BBC.
The 57-year-old will take the helm of the BBC Trust, replacing Michael Grade, who left for ITV last November.The 57-year-old will take the helm of the BBC Trust, replacing Michael Grade, who left for ITV last November.
Sir Michael said it was a "great privilege to be appointed chairman" of the corporation. Sir Michael said it was a "great privilege" to be the first chairman of the Trust, which the government created to be "the licence fee payer's voice".
"I will never lose sight of the public's core expectations of editorial independence and quality programmes," he added. He said he would not lose sight of the public's "expectations of editorial independence and quality programmes".
Sir Michael has been chief executive of Wolverhampton, Nottinghamshire and Birmingham councils and was professor of public policy at Birmingham University until last year.Sir Michael has been chief executive of Wolverhampton, Nottinghamshire and Birmingham councils and was professor of public policy at Birmingham University until last year.
Michael Grade left to become executive chairman of ITVHe recently carried out a three-year review of council funding at the request of Gordon Brown, concluding that council tax should remain, with a new top rate band. His broadcasting experience comes from being a former non-executive director of Central Television and chairman of ITV's Regional Advisory Council.
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said: "Sir Michael Lyons is experienced and talented. He has a distinguished track record in local government and a wide range of other sectors. Michael Grade left to become executive chairman of ITV"Under my leadership, the Trust will continue to safeguard the BBC's editorial independence and ensure that is impartial," he told a press conference.
"He will be an excellent chair of the new BBC Trust. Along with the eleven trust members, he will represent the interests of the licence fee payers, ensuring they receive quality programming and value for money." "Every member of the UK population pays the same licence fee and each have an equal ownership.
Sir Michael's appointment, which was formally made by Queen Elizabeth and announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair's Downing Street office, was also welcomed by BBC director general Mark Thompson. "My job as chairman of the Trust is to ensure that we listen to the main and varied views throughout the UK and seek to ensure they are reflected in the work and output of the BBC.
In a statement he said: "Sir Michael has a formidable reputation in public sector reform and modernisation, both at a regional level and nationally. "I believe I can bring both experience and enthusiasm from my earlier career."
All of us look forward to working with Michael as we go forward Chitra Bharucha, BBC Trust vice-chairman Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said Sir Michael was "experienced and talented".
"I believe he will be a true champion for all licence payers across the UK, ensuring that the BBC is in the strongest shape creatively and professionally to give audiences the best possible value over the next Charter period." People are entitled to ask on what criteria Sir Michael Lyons - someone with close links to the Labour Party - was selected Hugo SwireShadow culture secretary "He has a distinguished track record in local government and a wide range of other sectors," she said.
Regulatory role "He will be an excellent chair of the new BBC Trust. Along with the eleven Trust members, he will represent the interests of the licence fee payers, ensuring they receive quality programming and value for money."
Sir Michael becomes the first chairman of the BBC Trust, which replaced the broadcaster's board of governors in January. Sir Michael's appointment was formally made by The Queen and announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair's Downing Street office.
It was created by the government to be "the licence fee payer's voice" and ensure an "unprecedented obligation to openness and transparency." But the Conservative Party raised concerns that Sir Michael, who recently completed a three-year review into changes in the council tax system, was too close to Chancellor Gordon Brown.
HAVE YOUR SAY Would it have been too much to ask for someone with TV experience to get the job? HWH, Guildford class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5970&edition=1">Send us your comments 'More transparent'
Shadow culture secretary Hugo Swire said: "Today we have a situation where important appointments - increasingly dominated by Labour supporters - are made without any form of public scrutiny.
"People are entitled to ask on what criteria Sir Michael Lyons - someone with close links to the Labour Party and Gordon Brown in particular - was selected for this role.
HAVE YOUR SAY I think he has too close links to politics and not enough experience in television Simon Davenport, Norwich Send us your comments "It is time for major public appointments such as this to be conducted with greater transparency."
But Sir Michael rejected claims of political cronyism. He said: "It's certainly true that he's asked me to do three jobs - all of them difficult. I've done them to the best of my ability.
"I think that's really where it begins and ends. I've worked for him and I've enjoyed that work. I'm coming on now to a different role which demands - and I will deliver - absolute independence and impartiality."
The BBC Trust replaced the broadcaster's board of governors in January. The government said it was intended to ensure an "unprecedented obligation to openness and transparency."
The change came in the wake of the Hutton Report in 2004, which highlighted problems with the governors' dual role as both the corporation's champions and regulators.The change came in the wake of the Hutton Report in 2004, which highlighted problems with the governors' dual role as both the corporation's champions and regulators.
The new position will require Sir Michael to play more of a regulatory role than previous chairmen who were closer to BBC management and had some input over editorial matters.
Chitra Bharucha, vice-chairman and acting chairman of the Trust since November 2006, said: "The Trust has made important decisions in our first three months and significant challenges lie ahead.
"All of us look forward to working with Michael as we go forward."