Ex-BBC boss says Hutton got it wrong

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Jan 30, 2004

Byline: By Bill Jacobs

Former BBC boss Greg Dyke went on the offensive today in the wake of Lord Hutton's report as North East MPs said he and his chairman Gavyn Davies were right to quit.

The former Director General of the Corporation, who resigned yesterday, said he would be making detailed comments about the inquiry and its conclusions later but said he was "shocked" by its conclusions and claimed the top judge in charge had made legal errors.

But for the time being he made clear he was unhappy with the report and the reaction of former Downing Street spin doctor Alastair Campbell and others in government.

Mr Dyke's resignation followed that of BBC Chairman Mr Davies.

Ronnie Campbell, Kevan Jones and John McWilliam all agreed the two men's decision was the right one. But they stressed that the BBC's independence must be preserved. Blyth Valley MP Mr Campbell said: "Someone had to pay the price. The BBC was wrong and the Hutton Report was right to blame them."

Durham North MP Mr Jones said: "It was the right decision for the two men to go. The report made clear mistakes were made by the BBC and someone had to take responsibility. But it's very important the Government lets it go. The BBC is a widely-respected institution and its independence must be preserved."

Blaydon MP Mr McWilliam said: "They were right to go. There had been major failures of editorial management and control. The independence of the BBC itself must be preserved although there will have to be major changes."

Mr Dyke's remarks came as an opinion poll showed 56 per cent of voters think the Hutton Report was a "whitewash". And Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said the Government was determined the BBC should remain strong and independent.

Mr Dyke said: "We knew mistakes had been made by us but we didn't believe they were only by us. We have an opinion there are points of law in there where Lord Hutton is quite clearly wrong."