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BBC needs 'radical overhaul', says Lord Patten BBC needs 'radical overhaul', says Lord Patten
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A "thorough, radical, structural overhaul" of the BBC is necessary in the wake of the resignation of the director general, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten has said.A "thorough, radical, structural overhaul" of the BBC is necessary in the wake of the resignation of the director general, BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten has said.
George Entwistle quit last night after a controversial Newsnight report led to a former Tory treasurer being wrongly accused as a child abuser. George Entwistle quit on Saturday after a controversial Newsnight report led to a former Tory treasurer being wrongly accused as a child abuser.
Lord Patten said he did not try to persuade Mr Entwistle from leaving.Lord Patten said he did not try to persuade Mr Entwistle from leaving.
A new director general would be chosen within weeks, he said.A new director general would be chosen within weeks, he said.
Lord Patten said talks about the next director general would begin on Sunday, but in the meantime the acting director general, Tim Davie, would be given full support to do the job.Lord Patten said talks about the next director general would begin on Sunday, but in the meantime the acting director general, Tim Davie, would be given full support to do the job.
Before his departure, Mr Entwistle had commissioned a report from BBC Scotland director Ken MacQuarrie into what happened with the Newsnight investigation. He was expected to report on Sunday.Before his departure, Mr Entwistle had commissioned a report from BBC Scotland director Ken MacQuarrie into what happened with the Newsnight investigation. He was expected to report on Sunday.
Newsnight reported on 2 November abuse victim Steve Messham's claims against a leading 1980s Tory politician, but withdrew his accusation a week later, saying he had been mistaken. Newsnight reported on 2 November abuse victim Steve Messham's claims against a leading 1980s Tory politician being an abuser in north Wales, but withdrew his accusation a week later, saying he had been mistaken.
Lord McAlpine, although not named on Newsnight, was identified on the internet as the subject of the allegations. He said the claims were "wholly false and seriously defamatory".Lord McAlpine, although not named on Newsnight, was identified on the internet as the subject of the allegations. He said the claims were "wholly false and seriously defamatory".
Mr MacQuarrie's report is not the only inquiry into Newsnight.Mr MacQuarrie's report is not the only inquiry into Newsnight.
One inquiry is examining whether there were BBC management failings surrounding the decision not to broadcast a Newsnight programme about sex abuse claims surrounding the late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile.One inquiry is examining whether there were BBC management failings surrounding the decision not to broadcast a Newsnight programme about sex abuse claims surrounding the late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile.
Another inquiry has begun into the culture and practices at the BBC in the era of alleged sexual abuse by Savile. Another review is to examine sexual harassment policies at the BBC.Another inquiry has begun into the culture and practices at the BBC in the era of alleged sexual abuse by Savile. Another review is to examine sexual harassment policies at the BBC.
Lord Patten said his own job was to show licence fee-payers "that the BBC has a grip, that we get ourselves back on the road". Lord Patten, appearing on the BBC's Andrew Marr programme, said his own job was to show licence fee-payers "that the BBC has a grip, that we get ourselves back on the road".
News management
Of Mr Entwistle's departure, he said: "He's editor-in-chief of a great news organisation and I think he felt he should take responsibility for the awful journalism which disfigured that Newsnight programme [on 2 November].
"And one of the ironies is that he was a brilliantly successful editor of Newsnight himself for some time."
He said it was too soon to talk of cutting Newsnight, saying: "I think it would be very sad if we were to give up that evening slot which has done a lot of terrific investigative journalism over the years - not least when George was the editor.
"But we've obviously got to consider how, at the moment, it's managed and whether people have got a grip on its content."
In the wake of the Newsnight Savile row, several senior managers stepped aside from certain responsibilities while investigations took place.
Mr Entwistle was criticised for not knowing about the north Wales programme until after it screened, for not being aware of a newspaper article which revealed the mistaken identity, and for not knowing about a tweet saying Newsnight was poised to broadcast the revelations.
Lord Patten said he was aware of the tweet, which mentioned Conservative politicians, but said it would have been "grostesque interference" if he had contacted the programme then.
"I did subsequently ask whether the programme was being properly edited, whether it was being managed, and I was assured that it was."
Mr Entwistle had said the report had gone through management and legal checks before broadcast.
Restoring trust
Home Secretary Theresa May said it was the right decision for Mr Entwistle to go.
"It is a serious issue, there is a question of trust and credibility, and rebuilding trust in the BBC. It's a renowned national institution but also it has a worldwide brand as well.
"At the core of question about the Newsnight piece on north Wales is a question about the quality of journalism. That goes to the heart of what the BBC is about."
She added: "What matters now is how the BBC deals with it, and what the BBC puts in place.... I think the BBC has got a job to do to restore that trust."
Former Labour minister Kim Howells called for the resignations of Lord Patten and the BBC director of news, Helen Boaden.
Speaking on BBC Wales' Sunday Supplement Programme, Mr Howells described the current controversy as the "worst crisis I can remember in the history of the BBC".
He said: "Unfortunately there is a culture at the top of the BBC that is vain and out of touch. It's not doing what it should be doing which is supporting and encouraging muscular investigative journalism of the highest quality. Instead of that it's all over the place."