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New BBC chairman pledges quality New BBC chairman pledges quality
(about 5 hours later)
Sir Michael Lyons, a former council chief executive and market trader, has been named the new chairman of the BBC.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 the first chairman of the Trust, which the government created to be "the licence fee payer's voice".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".
He said he would not lose sight of the public's "expectations of editorial independence and quality programmes".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.
His broadcasting experience comes from being a former non-executive director of Central Television and chairman of ITV's Regional Advisory Council.His broadcasting experience comes from being a former non-executive director of Central Television and chairman of ITV's Regional Advisory Council.
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. SIR MICHAEL'S IN TRAY Ruling on managers' proposals for spending the licence fee for the next six yearsFinal decision on whether to approve the BBC's video-on-demand plansDeciding whether to allow adverts on international parts of BBC websiteReviewing the suspended online educational service BBC JamFinal approval for proposed satellite service Freesat "Under my leadership, the Trust will continue to safeguard the BBC's editorial independence and ensure that is impartial," he told a press conference.
"Every member of the UK population pays the same licence fee and each have an equal ownership."Every member of the UK population pays the same licence fee and each have an equal ownership.
"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."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.
"I believe I can bring both experience and enthusiasm from my earlier career.""I believe I can bring both experience and enthusiasm from my earlier career."
Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said Sir Michael was "experienced and talented". Michael Grade left to become executive chairman of ITVCulture Secretary Tessa Jowell said Sir Michael was "experienced and talented".
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. "He has a distinguished track record in local government and a wide range of other sectors," she said.
"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.""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's appointment was formally made by The Queen and announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair's Downing Street office.Sir Michael's appointment was formally made by The Queen and announced by Prime Minister Tony Blair's Downing Street office.
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.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.
'More transparent' 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 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.
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."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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5970&edition=1">Send us your comments "It is time for major public appointments such as this to be conducted with greater transparency." "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.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." HAVE YOUR SAY I think he has too close links to politics and not enough experience in television Simon Davenport, Norwich class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5970&edition=1">Send us your comments "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 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.