Lucy Fraser will recommend who should be the next BBC Chair, with the Prime Minister having the final say. Credit: Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg
Rishi Sunak is expected to look for a woman to replace Richard Sharpe as the next head of the BBC after the report that prompted his resignation criticized the previous short's lack of diversity -sheet.
Mr Sharp is retiring. as chairman after a report found he had broken the rules by not revealing his involvement in an £800,000 loan to Boris Johnson.
An independent investigation also found a «lack of gender diversity» in shortlisted for the position when he was appointed in 2021.
Lucy Fraser, Minister of Culture, will recommend who should be next in the corporation. Chairman, with the Prime Minister having the last word.
The Commissioner for Public Appointments' report criticizes Mr. Sharp's 2021 nomination process.
Richard Sharp is resigning after breaking the rules by failing to report his involvement in an £800,000 loan to Boris Johnson.
He noted that both Oliver Dowden, then Secretary of State for Culture, and the commission set up to oversee the appointment were frustrated by the lack of female candidates.
«Leaking information and informing the press about 'preferred candidates' for public appointments…should be prohibited by ministers,» the report says.
this role. It could also undermine efforts to increase diversity.
“Both the Commission and Ministers were frustrated by the lack of diversity among applicants for this role. This may have been due to the press being told of «preferred candidates.»
«No pre-briefing should be held, but if it does, ministers are advised to carefully consider approving mitigating measures in the future.»
>An «independent» appointment process
The findings will increase the pressure on Rishi Sunak. nominate a female chairperson, with the last two holders of the role being men.
Opposition parties are also calling for him to introduce a more «independent» appointment process, including giving MPs the right to vote on the final candidate.
During a visit to Scotland on Friday, the Prime Minister declined to commit himself to making a non-political appointment to the position.
«There is an established independent appointment process for all appointments, especially for the BBC, and we will follow the normal appointment process for that,» he said.
Labor said the quarrel was over Mr. on Sharpe, a former Conservative sponsor, «caused untold damage to the BBC's reputation and severely undermined its independence».
Lucy Powell, shadow culture minister, said: «Rishi Sunak needs to urgently put together a truly independent and credible process to replace Sharpe to help restore the BBC's respect after its government has tarnished it so badly.»
Cross-party group MPs
The Chairman oversees the Board of Directors of the BBC and is responsible for ensuring that the corporation carries out its mission while maintaining complete impartiality.
An investigation by Adam Heppustun KC found that Mr Sharp «failed to disclose potential perceived conflicts of interest» to a cross-party group of MPs who carefully reviewed his appointment.
In a letter of resignation, the outgoing chairman admitted he violated the rules, but said the violation was «unintentional and not material» .
He said he decided to step down to «prioritize the interests» of the broadcaster, and he will remain in office until the end of June to allow time for a successor to be appointed.
The interim chairman will appointed from the current BBC Board of Non-Executive Directors before Mr Sunak decides on a permanent replacement.
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