Leadership race

The Sunday Express' lead on pay cuts to come at the BBC is an extrapolation of an old story. Back in February, The Times, under the headline "Leadership revolution", reported that the Tories would put a non-executive chairman at the top of the BBC Executive, as part of a process of change. The Express, not unnaturally, and spurred on by Lord Fowler, presumes the new man, or woman, would do the coalition's bidding, and cut costs.

The BBC has had non-executive directors for a while. Marcus Agius, chairman of Barclays, is described as Senior Independent Director. Val Gooding is a non-executive director, and holds the same role at Standard Chartered and Sainsbury's; David Robbie is also a non-exec, but is also Group FD at Rexam. Samir Shah also runs Juniper Communications, and Robert Webb is also chairman at Autonomy. Mr Webb also acts as non-executive chairman of BBC Worldwide. Collectively, they have not had the impact at the BBC that many Conservatives, and the Sunday Express, want.

The next step will be fascinating; with the plan apparently in place since February, has Jeremy Hunt already got someone lined up for the new job ?