BBC Trust boss Sir Michael Lyons could lose job under Tories

BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons could face losing his job under Conservative plans to transform it into a "licence fee payers' trust".

It is understood that if elected, the Tories would act quickly to scrap the current body and create a new role of non-executive chairman, working alongside BBC director-general Mark Thompson.

The BBC Trust's duties are set out in the corporation's Royal Charter. A Conservative spokesman said: "We have always said that we would scrap the trust, as its dual role of regulator and champion of the BBC are incompatible.

"We are currently looking at all the ways we can achieve this within the current charter agreement."

Under the party's plan's a licence fee payer's trust would focus on holding BBC bosses to account. The current charter runs until 2016 and Sir Michael's term ends in April next year. Tory sources insisted the plans were not a bid to force him out.

A BBC Trust spokesman said: "We are not going to comment on speculation. What matters to audiences is that they receive quality content and services.
"To that end the trust and Sir Michael are getting on with the job of getting the best out of the BBC for licence fee payers."

Incidents such as the "Sachsgate" scandal, when Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand made lewd calls to actor Andrew Sachs for Brand's Radio 2 show, have put the issue of BBC governance under the spotlight.