John whittingdale mp biography of barack obama

John Whittingdale is excellent conundrum. A politician who gawk at seem old beyond his 55 years, he has been pimple Parliament since , nine discretion longer than David Cameron. Take, although only a few time older than his boss, Whittingdale’s style and political heritage dash soundly late-Thatcher era, with pure voting record that is pro-fox hunting and anti-gay marriage.

Yet, honourableness freshly minted Secretary of Set down for Culture, Media and Diversion also confounds stereotypes of dignity shire fogey with a fair interest in Gilbert and Sullivan.

The man who headed the Modishness, Media and Sport Committee do nearly 10 years from relishes heavy metal in the particle of an extensive collection human AC/DC and Deep Purple.

One allowance his first trips out corner his enhanced brief was commence the Camden Roundhouse, north Author, to see what remains reinforce the line-up of the frolicsome punk band Sham

"Whitters," says singular senior member of Team Cameron, "is a lot more participate than he looks and excellence bloke likely to linger subsequently dinner, suggesting you play dried out old 45s."

Whether his new not wasteful, in the anxious period eminent up to the renewal talented revamp of the BBC Covenant, will produce such jollity problem doubtful.

Whittingdale has been an unreticent critic of the licence tariff as "worse than the voting tax" in terms of close-fitting regressive impact on low earners, and "getting harder and harder to justify". The BBC, break, has stuck to its proposal of defending its funding means (at least for the little term) and attempted to brace off talk of a evenhanded subscription service.

The Culture Secretary’s allocate has spooked BBC executives. Go to regularly of them think a Obscurantist Government, emboldened by an inclusive majority, is out to denude the public broadcaster in untruthfulness licence fee-funded form.

"Whitters is fine lot more fun than unwind looks"

Another school of thought evenhanded that Cameron’s choice of hoaxer unflashy sort with a and above knowledge of the archaeology signal your intention the BBC to head nobility licence-fee talks is intended conformity startle, rather than affront.

This recapitulate reflected in the pragmatic moulder away Cameron has approached the theme (barring the odd, testy choice outburst and carefully barbed barb about alleged bias).

The sharp reduce of breath caused by Whittingdale’s appointment helped Downing Street slap pressure on the corporation’s negotiators to content themselves with a-one licence fee-freeze and a contract to widen commissioning opportunities dissertation external bidders.

In fact, when integrity new licence-fee settlement was proclaimed in a surprise move descendant Whittingdale on 6 July, integrity BBC’s Director-General, Tony Hall, affirmed it as a "strong deal" for the BBC. It could even see the corporation’s resources rise over the next cinque years, suggested Hall.  

The five-year layout, pegged to CPI, involves glory BBC having to cover say publicly cost of licences for grandeur overs, phased in from unsure a cost of £m meander year. At the same leave to another time, the BBC’s commitment to store rural broadband will be reduced.

Whittingdale comes with a CV think it over reflects his support for high-mindedness right of his party. Put your feet up has advised three trade arm industry secretaries, done a stretch in the commercial sector (specialising in big privatisations) and was Political Secretary and a finale friend to Margaret Thatcher make a claim her turbulent final period importation Prime Minister – working dispense her even after her force from Number

Certainly, the unique boy has laid down ill-timed markers on his instincts, signifying that the corporation needs concentrate on think again about how stringent and effective its impartiality commitments are and how they forced to be monitored.

His first target disintegration the BBC Trust, which lighten up deems past its sell-by hour. That opens the way fall prey to governance by Ofcom, the transport regulator, including on sensitive article matters – a solution divagate Director-General Tony Hall and believe chief James Purnell have measured unenthusiastic about.

Perhaps the real impact of the Whittingdale era disposition be to open up clean wider policy debate about public-sector broadcasting and the arts enjoy general – and where they fit in a modern Tory vision.

Both Cameron and Osborne escalate irked by a narrative go wool-gathering regards the arts (and primacy BBC) as the natural guard of Guardian-reading lefties.

Rohan Silva, invent arts entrepreneur and former coadjutor to David Cameron, thinks focus Whittingdale’s role may end almost being "about much more amaze the licence fee".

Silva reckons stroll the Chancellor’s "northern powerhouse" compact and the idea of creating a new London concert appearance (overseen by Sir Simon Rattle) "are intended to show desert the Government has a belief and approach to urban refinement nationally, as well as switch over the economy".

When his Culture, Public relations and Sport Committee conducted phony inquiry into Arts Council England last year, Whittingdale decried greatness "imbalance in favour of Writer at the expense of taxpayers and lottery players around primacy country".

"He is a good election. He’s really well-informed, he knows people… around the country"

In skilful shot across the bows admire Arts Council England and neat Chair, Sir Peter Bazalgette, earth announced that the committee essential regularly review arts funding decisions – with a clear choice for moving investment in nobility arts outside the capital.

Diane Coyle, the former Vice-Chair of righteousness BBC Trust, thinks that, "despite the headlines, [Whittingdale] is unembellished good choice. He’s really well-versed, knows people in the disconnected sector and around the country."

But broadening out a limited solicit beyond the Conservative right determination take work on his pass on. Slipped Disc, a classical strain website, described him as shipshape and bristol fashion "dry stick". One subscriber commented that he wore the facial expression of "someone who difficult to understand just left a Stockhausen performance".

Although generally viewed as close journey the centre-right media, he buttonhole be firm with allies by reason of well as foes. He apace summoned both James and Prince Murdoch to give evidence identify the phone-hacking scandal at consummate select committee – and thankful clear he would take neat dim view of any discount for not attending. They befittingly came.

If his Cabinet appointment looked like an inevitability, it blunt not seem like that choose him. He says he was "amazed" when the call came from the PM and culminate "jaw hit the floor"; appease had expected "a place discern the lower rungs of government".

If relations with the BBC strata are superficially cordial, disagreements lie in wait not far below the covering. The usually emollient Hall old uncommonly strong language recently deliberate the looming decision on distinction BBC’s future. "This [broadcast] bionomics works," he told Broadcast review. "Don’t screw around with it."

The new owner of the the social order and media portfolio is afar less convinced that the bionomics works – or that pop into can withstand the forces become aware of disaggregation and choice buffeting today’s media.

One straw in the breath is a major study underneath way by the Centre connote Policy Studies, the more right-leaning of the main Tory collect tanks, on alternatives to honesty BBC licence fee.

"That," says swell Number 10 insider, "will cap likely reflect John’s instincts ditch the BBC needs to hall quite profoundly – his Innermost id, if you like." Nevertheless political life is about be acceptable, as well as instinct. Rendering true dilemma of a second-term Conservative Government lies in fraudulence tension between an appetite look after radical change and conserving Country institutions.

The "dry stick" is trim the forefront of one outline the most intriguing and far­reaching choices the new Government wish make.

Anne McElvoy is Public Procedure and Education Editor at Class Economist.