Richard Sharp yesterday did the right thing by resigning as BBC chairman.
But he should never have been appointed.
The whole murky affair – Sharp failed to declare he had helped facilitate an £800,000 loan for then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson – sums up how the Tory elite operate.
Jobs and contracts are handed to a close-knit group of mates, cronies and benefactors.
Before being made BBC chairman, Mr Sharp, a former boss of current PM Rishi Sunak, was a generous donor to the Conservatives.
Yet he was the sole candidate put forward by the Government to run an organisation whose reputation rests on its impartiality.
It is essential that measures are put in place to prevent this and future governments from deciding who runs the broadcaster.
Sharp’s departure should not allow Johnson to wriggle off the hook. We still do not know who finally bankrolled the £800,000 loan facility he had while in office. The stench of sleaze continues to hang over the Tories.
Kids miss out
Too many children are being taught by teachers unqualified in their subject.
Analysis by Labour found one in 10 maths classes are conducted by non-specialists.
For physics it is one in four lessons and for French and German it is one in five.
Good teachers are essential but it is not surprising that schools are struggling to recruit and retain staff when their pay has fallen by as much as 13% over the past decade.
Rishi Sunak claims he wants to improve maths tuition in schools but his sums don’t add up. You can’t raise standards if you keeping lowering wages. Must try harder, PM.
Family ties
Our poll today shows the Royal Family is still regarded as a force for good by the majority of the population.
But people would also like a slimmed-down monarchy that does more to pay its own way.
A new king is an opportunity for the royals to plot a new course.
