BBC Veteran Calls for Depoliticizing the Corporation

In a keynote address at the Edinburgh TV Festival, former BBC News director James Harding has made a strong case for the corporation to become more independent of government influence. Harding, who now runs news outlets Tortoise and The Observer, argues that "political interference and the perception of a political presence looming over the BBC" is a growing problem that needs to be addressed.

To depoliticize the BBC, Harding proposes that the BBC chair and board of directors should be chosen by the board itself, rather than by the Prime Minister. He believes this would help attract "more and better people" to these roles, as they would not feel like "a political stitch-up." Harding also suggests that the BBC could "think of itself more as the People's Platform" - a public service broadcaster that upholds standards of truth, accuracy, and diversity of opinion.

Additionally, Harding has raised the idea of allowing independent producers to create some editions of BBC current affairs shows like Panorama and Newsnight. He argues this would help the BBC "head off accusations of narrowness in its agenda and its approach, which are corrosive of public trust."

Harding, who is Jewish, has also used the platform to strongly deny that the BBC is "institutionally anti-Semitic," stating that while mistakes have been made, it is "unhelpful" to "smear the institution" in this way.