A TORY lord has emerged as the favourite for the plum top job at the UK’s media regulator, according to reports.
Former journalist and TV executive Michael Grade is Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries’ preferred candidate for the Ofcom chair job, The Guardian reports.
The process has been chaotic so far with Paul Dacre rejected for the job despite claims the recruitment process was engineered to favour the former Daily Mail editor.
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Sources told the paper the contest has come down to two Tory Lords – Grade and Stephen Gilbert, a former deputy chair of the party.
Grade is seen as closer to Dorries, after he criticised the BBC’s coverage of the Partygate scandal as “gleeful and disrespectful” and his support for the privatisation of Channel 4, of which he was formerly its CEO.
A UK Government spokesperson told The Guardian “no final decision” had been made on the appointment but an announcement is expected soon.
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Dacre failed to secure the job – which pays £142,000 for three days of work per week – after an interview with an independent panel.
He was reportedly offered the job over a bottle of wine with the Prime Minister in 2020.
Ofcom regulates Britain’s broadcast media and as well as overseeing competition rules in telecommunications and postal services.
Businesswoman Maggie Carver is currently the interim chair of the organisation.
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