Sunday, September 8, 2013

Nick

There'll be some worried glances exchanged over the Weetabix in Wandsworth this morning - Nicholas Kroll, CB, 59, Director of The BBC Trust Unit, has been called forward from his usual place at Chairman Patten's elbow, into the front row of witnesses for Monday's Public Accounts Committee.

This means we'll have a Severance Seven on parade - much more euphonious than Six.....

With a degree in classics from Corpus Christi, Oxford, The Krollster went straight to the Civil Service, and, via The Treasury, Departments of Transport and Environment, emerged at the DCMS. There he rose to No 2, and in 2004, was handily placed when the BBC Trust was set up to replace the Board of Governors. For running the Unit from its offices in Great Portland Street, his package last year was £246,480. He has often claimed coffee on expenses.

Mark Thompson's written evidence to the PAC makes it clear that he believes dealing with The Director of the Trust Unit is the same as dealing with "The Trust"; the question Ma Hodge will ask is whether or not email acquiescence, if it is deemed so, from our Nick is equivalent to tacit approval.

Meanwhile the Telegraph and Times suggest we're seeing the last days of The Trust. It would be an uncomfortable irony if its first Director was its last -  and thus redundant.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Other people who read this.......