Labour Faces Calls to Appoint Conservative Ex-Minister as Ofcom Chair
Ministers are under significant pressure to select a Conservative former cabinet minister as the new chair of the media regulator Ofcom, as he competes against a Labour peer for the pivotal role. The position has gained heightened importance in public life due to growing concerns over the rapid expansion of online content and the rise of politically partisan broadcasting. No successor has yet been named to replace Michael Grade, the former BBC chair, who has only weeks remaining in his term.
Key Contenders and Insider Push
It is understood that there is a concerted effort to persuade Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, to appoint Jeremy Wright, the former culture secretary and current Conservative MP, who played a role in drafting laws to address harmful online content. Wright has been shortlisted alongside businessperson and former Channel 4 chair Ian Cheshire, as well as former Labour MP and life peer Margaret Hodge. Insiders believe the race is now primarily between Wright and Hodge.
Hodge has been viewed as the frontrunner for appointment by the Labour administration. As chair of the public accounts committee, Westminster's spending watchdog, she earned a formidable reputation for challenging big tech companies over their tax obligations. She has also previously advocated for banning online anonymity and holding social media directors personally accountable for defamatory posts.
Support for Wright's Candidacy
However, multiple sources involved in online safety have argued that Wright should be given the job. They highlight his legal background as a king's counsel and his deep understanding of the intricacies of the Online Safety Act. Additionally, they believe he will be willing to take risks in confronting major digital platforms.
"Jeremy is the person who can really achieve the strategic reset that is required," said a source familiar with the selection process. "He understands the workings of the act, which makes him perfectly well placed." Another source added, "Ofcom should be testing its powers effectively and being more ambitious ... Jeremy would be seen by civil society generally ... as being the preferred candidate."
Political Implications and Endorsements
Appointing a Conservative would likely spark controversy within Labour ranks. Nonetheless, some observers argue that Wright would possess the political freedom to address hostility toward the new online safety laws from Reform UK and certain Conservative factions. Former foreign secretary William Hague endorsed Wright, stating he would be "a very clever appointment." Hague noted, "Ofcom will need cross-party support to do its work well, so appointing an opposition member would be wise. And he also has credibility on the issues from his ministerial experience."
Concerns Over Delay and Regulatory Challenges
The delay in appointing a new chair is raising alarms among stakeholders. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, emphasized, "This is a crucial appointment that will signal whether the government is serious about achieving a strategic reset of the UK's online safety agenda. The new chair must address fundamental flaws in Ofcom's implementation of the Online Safety Act and prove capable of restoring the frayed support and confidence of civil society."
Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, warned that the delay "would leave Britain at risk," adding, "Social media is getting worse, not better. Ofcom is already struggling to deliver on its online safety mandate and needs swift and decisive direction from a knowledgeable, experienced, and digital-savvy chair committed to protecting Britons from online harms."
A government source indicated that a decision would be made "very soon." An Ofcom spokesperson commented, "Since the Online Safety Act began to take effect last year, we've already driven meaningful change, like age-gating pornography, requiring platforms to tackle illegal content and harms to children, and opening investigations into nearly 100 sites where we have concerns. But there is more work to do, and we look forward to working with whoever the government appoints as our next chair to make life safer online."
