Michael Lyons steps down as BBC Trust chief
By politics.co.uk staff
Sir Michael Lyons has announced he intends to step down from his position as chairman of the BBC Trust when his contract expires next year.
He had previously said he was “up for” renewing the contract, but in a letter to media secretary Jeremy Hunt he explained that the job was taking up too much of his time.
The move follows widespread criticism of the Trust for its dual role as watchdog and cheerleader for the BBC.
Sir Michael was keen to reject those criticism in his letter.
“For all the continuing debate, I am clear that this model is robust, workable and effective,” he wrote.
“I am proud of what we have achieved in safeguarding the BBC’s independence against significant challenge, and bringing the interests of audiences in all their diversity to the centre of the BBC’s thinking. We have taken openness and transparency to a new level.”
Mr Hunt has put considerable pressure on the Trust to encourage management at the BBC to publish their salaries and take pay cuts. Staff are currently considering going on strike during the Tory party conference and for the autumn spending review in response to the corporation’s pension deficit.
“I have taken time over the summer to reflect on whether I would want to be considered for reappointment,” Sir Michael wrote to Mr Hunt.
“For all the positives associated with this agenda, I have to acknowledge that the role of chairman has been far more demanding than the nominal three to four days a week in the job specification.
“This workload has now reached a point where I am increasingly concerned that it is crowding out other appointments to which I remain committed and other activity that I wish to undertake.
So balancing all the factors I have on reflection concluded that my preference would be to limit my appointment to a single term and not seek reappointment from next May.”
The Department of Culture, media and Sport will now consider a successor.
