Gov Name Michael Grade as Preferred Candidate for Ofcom Chair

The UK Government has named Conservative Peer, Michael Grade (aka – Lord Grade of Yarmouth), as its preferred candidate for the position of Chairman at the UK telecoms and media regulator, Ofcom. Grade has had a long career in TV and broadcasting, encompassing London Weekend Television, the BBC, ITV and Channel Four.

Back in early 2020 it was revealed that Ofcom’s previous Chairman, Lord Burns, had agreed to step down (here). The main reason appeared to be related to Ofcom’s future powers to regulate internet content, which will extend its role. “The Secretary of State has indicated that the Government would like a Chair to be in place who is able to oversee the successful implementation of any changes in full,” said Ofcom at the time.

The new Chair was originally supposed to be in place by the end of 2020, but this goal was not achieved and in January 2021 the Government instead appointed Maggie Carver to the role as an interim Chair (she previously held the role of Deputy Chair). Despite this, it’s been widely reported that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, wanted the former Daily Mail editor, Paul Dacre, to take on the role.

However, in May 2021 the interview board rejected Dacre’s application and, instead of choosing from one of the other candidates who had been cleared by the recruitment team, the process was controversially restarted (i.e. all the approved candidates were effectively rejected by the then culture secretary, MP Oliver Dowden). In short, Dacre was given a second stab at the role, but in November 2021 he opted to withdraw from the process.

The Government has since been trying to find a suitable (i.e. friendly to their policies) replacement, and Michael Grade looks to be the one they’ve shortlisted. No doubt his recent criticisms of the BBC’s licence fee and political coverage had nothing to do with it.

Nadine Dorries MP, Culture Secretary, said:

“I am delighted to announce that Lord Grade is the Government’s preferred candidate to be the new chair of Ofcom. Lord Grade’s experience at the highest level of a number of broadcasters and his expert knowledge of the British media landscape makes him an ideal candidate for this role.

Going forward, Ofcom has an even more important role to play as the UK’s communications regulator. The introduction of the Online Safety Bill will give it new responsibilities and resources to ensure digital platforms tackle illegal and abusive material online. I am confident that under Lord Grade’s leadership Ofcom will rise to the challenge with great success.”

Lord Grade said:

“Ofcom is respected across the globe as a first rate communications regulator so I am privileged to be asked to become its chair. The role of Ofcom in British life has never been more important with new responsibilities on the horizon regulating online safety, on top of the ever changing broadcasting landscape. I look forward to my appearance in front of the DCMS Select Committee to outline what I can bring to this role and how I can help ensure Ofcom is fit for the future.”

However, if Grade is appointed to the role, then he will move to the cross-benches in the House of Lords “at the earliest opportunity” and must also give up any non-executive roles that could cause a conflict of interest. Lord Grade will now appear before MPs on the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee for pre-appointment scrutiny, although no date has currently been set for this.