BBC to call for permanent charter and end of political appointments to board

"When it comes to independence, perceptions matter as much as reality, and the audience has spoken. This charter must find ways to reassert the BBC's editorial, creative and operational independence, so the BBC can continue to be a universally supported, trusted, unifying force."

"The BBC has always said Gibb's voice was one of many on its board, and the corporation's chair, Samir Shah, has ridiculed claims of a rightwing coup. It is nevertheless to press for an end to political appointments and the perception of interference they create."

"The proposals form part of its official response to current charter renewal talks, to be published on Thursday. It follows concern within the BBC that political pressure from its board led to the resignations of the director general, Tim Davie, and the head of BBC News, Deborah Turness, in November last year."

The BBC is proposing major reforms to safeguard its independence, including eliminating political appointments to its board and securing a permanent royal charter rather than renegotiating every 10 years. These proposals respond to concerns that political pressure from board members contributed to the resignations of director general Tim Davie and BBC News head Deborah Turness. The push follows allegations of a coup involving board member Robbie Gibb, a former Conservative communications chief. The BBC's largest audience engagement exercise revealed that licence-fee payers consider independence non-negotiable. The corporation emphasizes that perceptions of independence matter as much as reality, and seeks to modernize while maintaining editorial, creative, and operational autonomy.

Read at www.theguardian.com