Charles Moore on BBC reform

Former editor of The Spectator and Daily Telegraph Charles Moore is tipped to become chairman of the BBC. Despite being proactively encouraged to put himself forward for the job of director-general earlier this year, Moore made clear he would not be applying for the role. Firstly, he didn’t think he’d get it, writing in his Spectator notebook that he is ‘not a woman’ with ‘no plans to become one’ and ‘under the BBC’s diversity rules, uniformity of gender is required’. Secondly, the job didn’t appeal. He wrote ‘bureaucracy is the enemy of creativity. The BBC can only be a bureaucracy.’

But with Lord Moore now poised to become head of the BBC board – which is responsible for maintaining the public broadcaster’s independence and staying on mission – Mr. Steerpike has flipped through his Spectator columns over the past few years, looking for hints of what changes Moore might make to Auntie if his role is confirmed.

No U-turn on licence fee for over-75s

Despite pressure mounting on the BBC to U-turn on its decision to end free TV licences for over-75s, Moore firmly believes this demographic should pay their dues:

‘Tough though the licence fee will be on this group when the BBC re-imposes it, it is (with exceptions that will be allowed for) perfectly justified.