Sir Michael Lyons remained tight-lipped earlier this week over rumours that he is in line to become the next chairman of the BBC, an appointment expected to be announced today (5 April ).
In an interview with The MJ on 2 April, the day he was taking staff on his inquiry out for a final farewell dinner, he commented: ‘Watch this space’, but agreed that a decision was ‘expected imminently.’
Sir Michael (left), whose two-and-a-half year inquiry into local government ended a fortnight ago with the publication of his findings, has no direct media experience which, in the words of one insider, ‘may, in the case of the BBC, be a good thing.’
However, he is chairman of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, on good terms with chancellor Gordon Brown, and author of the report into relocating the Civil Service out of London, which led to the BBC moving its HQ to Salford.
As former acting chairman of the Audit Commission and ex-chief executive of three local authorities, Sir Michael also has substantial experience of running public sector bodies. Former North West BBC political editor, Jim Hancock, a columnist for The MJ and married to Frances Done, head of local government at the Audit Commission under Sir Michael until last October, said: ‘I think Sir Michael Lyons would be an excellent appointment.
‘If he can handle government ministers with their capricious views on local government finance, BBC managers will be a breeze.’
In his interview with The MJ this week, looking back on his inquiry, Sir Michael dismissed earlier media criticisms, saying he had ‘a balanced scorecard’.
While ministers rejected revaluation, tourism tax and new tax bands, ‘most of the report remains on the table’.
But he admitted the scale of hostile national media coverage on his council tax plans was unexpected, and drew attention away from the rest of his report.
He added: ‘I’ve done what I was asked to do. Now it’s up to local government.’
The 10 staff on the inquiry are now returning to posts in the Civil Service, while Sir Michael’s own contract expired on 31 March.
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