BBC proposes changes to board appointments after concerns over political interference

The BBC is to suggest changes to the process of appointing people to its board, following concerns about the risk of political interference.

Five members of the broadcaster's 14-strong board, including the chairman, are currently appointed by the government, but ministers are considering whether to change that as part of a wider review of the BBC.

The BBC will publish its response to the government's consultation on its future on Thursday, which is expected to say all board appointments should follow "a new, clearly defined, transparent and broadly consistent process".

The appointments and influence of board members came to the fore after the BBC's director general and head of news resigned last November, with some suggesting there had been a "politically motivated coup".

That was dismissed as "ridiculous" by Sir Robbie Gibb, a former Downing Street communications director who was appointed by the Conservative government to the BBC board, and whose influence was the focus of the scrutiny late last year.

Questions about the BBC's independence were also previously raised when former Conservative donor Richard Sharp, who was once ex-PM Rishi Sunak's boss, was named BBC chair in 2021. Sharp resigned two years later over his links to Boris Johnson.

The BBC is expected to tell the government on Thursday that there is "a risk around the perception of independence".

The government is currently considering the future of the BBC and how to change to its royal charter - the set of terms that define how it operates.

Last year, the BBC said 91% of people who responded to a major questionnaire said it was important for the BBC to be independent from the government of the day.

"When it comes to independence, perceptions matter as much as reality, and the audience has spoken," a BBC source said.

"This charter must find ways to reassert the BBC's editorial, creative and operational independence, so the BBC can continue to be a universally-supported, trusted, unifying force.

"At the same time, we want to keep modernising the BBC and find new ways to open up our thinking, plans and decision making to our audience, so they are more involved and play a greater role in the BBC of the future."

In December, the government published its green paper about options for the BBC's future, which said ministers would "consider the right make-up of the board to support independence and accountability".

"This could include whether there should be a change to the government's role in appointing board members, while also maintaining the BBC's independence in appointing the director general and other existing board members," it said.

The government is also considering questions about the BBC's funding, accountability, decision-making and charter length.

In its response, the BBC is expected to give its views on reform of the licence fee and regulation.

It will also suggest scrapping a defined time period for each royal charter; using "citizen assemblies" to help make decisions; and change its complaints procedures.