Tim Davie is to appear in front of the Lords communications committee next week for a one-off evidence session on the leadership of the BBC. It is not difficult to guess what questions will arise.
Put in an invidious position, the director-general appears to have acted honourably and sensibly. He launched an internal investigation into allegations against Huw Edwards before contacting the police, who subsequently found no criminal activity. Indeed, it is remarkable that this was achieved while at the same time senior BBC journalists were working on additional stories about the presenter.
The public mood, somewhat feverish prior to the name being revealed, has changed markedly in recent days. The majority of the British people value the BBC not simply for its journalism, but for its convening powers. In what at times feel like a hyper-partisan and stratified landscape, the BBC brings people together with high-quality and distinctive output that still informs, educates and entertains.
Bad hand played well
When it comes to public sector pay, the PM has played a difficult hand well. Ignoring the recommendations of the independent pay review bodies would likely have unleashed a new wave of strikes, further disrupting lives.
Yet the thing about bad hands is that ultimately the outcome is still likely to be far from optimal. While teaching unions reacted positively to yesterday’s announcement, the British Medical Association — with its 35 per cent pay demands — is less likely to quietly return to work. An issue unlikely to be helped by the comments of Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, who has told striking junior doctors: “You’re not exceptional”.
Meanwhile, both healthcare professionals and patients ought to read the small print of Rishi Sunak’s announcement. With no new money from the Treasury, pay rises of six per cent for the NHS and 6.5 per cent for teachers must be found from within existing budgets. That will require cuts elsewhere, even if not directly from the schools budget. With inflation still high and the economy stagnant, this is unlikely to be the last difficult hand the PM will have to play in the coming months.
Enjoy the ride
All aboard the Superloop. The first service starts running tomorrow, with the SL8 replacing the current 607, which already runs between Uxbridge and White City.
But the full network is far more ambitious and includes new routes to encourage Londoners living in outer boroughs to get out of their cars ahead of the Ulez expansion. This is an exciting project worth supporting — and indeed riding.
