Sir Christopher Bland

EDM number 260 in 1995-96, proposed by Tony Banks on 10/01/1996.

That this House expresses concern at the appointment of Sir Christopher Bland, a well-known Tory party supporter, as thenew Chairman of the BBC; believes that the political impartiality and independence of the BBC is compromised by the appointment of someone who has held senior elected office for the Tories and who is clearly a political appointee; and calls for an open competitive system of appointment for such positions of national significance in order to ensure widespread public support and an end to the use of cronyism by a discredited and exhausted Government anxious to secure placemen in institutions such as the BBC before defeat at the coming General Election.

This motion has been signed by a total of 36 MPs.