Reports suggest that Tessa Jowell has seen off John Birt in the battle over the BBC’s future. The Green Paper on Charter Renewal is to be released next week and will reveal that the BBC will preserve its licence fee for the next 10 years.

Apprently the Prime Minister backed Jowell over the future direction, after a ‘difference of opinion’ between the Secretary of State and the Downing Street advisor Lord John Birt. Birt backed plans to establish a Public Service Broadcasting Commission which would have taken over some of the governance and funding aspects of the BBC’s operation.

Blair is well aware (indeed he is the only one who knows for certain) of the proximity of a General Election, and would likely fear a spat with the BBC at a such a sensitive political moment.

However, the Green Paper has some way to run before anything gets set in stone so maybe the ‘mood music’ will change once a new Government is in place. Birt, although wounded, will still lurk in the background - there are rumours that he is to be tasked with heading up a team in the Cabinet Office to look at technology and service delivery issues.

Comment - Personally, I still believe that Birt was right to promote the ideas in regard to the PSBC - as set out in the Burns Report. They should have been incorporated into the Green Paper - and they should not be ignored by MPs during debate and consultation.