The former Telegraph editor is understood to be Downing Street’s preferred choice to take on the role. Lord Moore, 63, is a vehement critic of the Corporation, accusing it of having left-wing “woke” values. He also objects to its guaranteed £4billion-a-year income from the licence fee. A senior BBC figure told the Financial Times this week that Lord Moore’s nomination would be a “statement of intent” from Downing Street.
They added: “Charles Moore is not just a commentator, and he is not just a Conservative.
“He is [out] . . . to destroy an organisation.”
Meanwhile, a former BBC board member called the prospect of Lord Moore taking on the role as “a bad joke”.
The journalist would be a surprising choice for the role given his criticisms of the BBC in the past.
On the licence fee, he said: “The greatest single wrong on which the BBC rests is the licence fee.
A senior BBC figure told the Financial Times this week that Lord Moore’s nomination would be a “statement of intent” from Downing Street.
They added: “Charles Moore is not just a commentator, and he is not just a Conservative.
“He is [out] . . . to destroy an organisation.”
Meanwhile, a former BBC board member called the prospect of Lord Moore taking on the role as “a bad joke”.
READ MORE: Charles Moore criticised BBC’s ‘bias’ Donald Trump coverage
Lord Moore has also spoken openly about his refusal to pay the fee.
He has compared the £3.5bn tax that funds the BBC to “compulsory tithes” for the church that forced people to pay for “a public religion whether they believed in it or not”.
One aspect of the BBC’s coverage that could be impacted if Charles Moore were to become Chairman would be its coverage of US President Donald Trump.
Lord Moore accused the broadcaster of bias and “groupthink” when covering Mr Trump.
He also said the way the BBC greeted the election of Barack Obama contrasted with how it greeted the election of Trump.
He made the claims on The Media Show in 2017.
