An independent view ?

Shadow Culture Secretary Lucy Powell is setting up a 'panel' to look at the independence of the BBC.

Its membership may raise eyebrows. It includes TV producer Steve Morrison, a former Granada TV director of programmes and chief executive who leaves his role as a BBC non-exec in five days' time;  James Purnell, a former BBC director of strategy and Culture Secretary under Labour, currently struggling on at the University of the Arts London on £340k; TV presenter June Sarpong, who was formerly the BBC’s first director of creative diversity, and the BBC's most expensive manager, pro-rata; and Lou Cordwell, chair of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, who worked with the BBC on a range of high-profile digital projects, including the digital delivery of BBC Ideas, from an idea by James Purnell.