Calls for Lord Patten to resign from Conservative Party to take BBC chairman role
Calls have been made by Labour for Lord Patten to resign from the Conservatives before taking up his the role of chairman of the BBC, should he be chosen.
Lord Patten of Barnes is culture secretary Jeremy Hunt’s preferred candidate for the role to succeed Sir Michael Lyons, but Labour’s shadow culture secretary, Ivan Lewis, has said he should stand down from the Conservative Party in order to take the position.
The Telegraph reports that Lewis has published a list of five ‘tests’ for Patten in order for him to become chairman, including demanding that he reduce his business portfolio; such as his role on the international advisory board for BP, and also demonstrate that he would be willing to stand up for the BBC against his former political colleagues, including Prime Minister David Cameron.
Patten would be allowed to remain a member of a political party according to rules set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the BBC Trust, although he will be unable to participate in any biased political activities as chairman.