A non-Welsh speaker has been appointed to the board of BBC Wales for the first time in 60 years

Martin Shipton

A row has broken out over the appointment of a new BBC board member from Wales who does not speak Welsh.

The appointment of businessman Michael Plaut is the first time in almost 60 years that a non-Welsh-speaking person has held such a role on the BBC’s governing body.

In his book Broadcasting and the BBC in Wales, historian John Davies wrote about how the last non-Welsh speaker to be appointed Governor of Wales on the BBC was Rachel Jones, a Conservative from Brecon who held the position from 1960 to 1965.

Wife of the Dean of Brecon, she lived mainly in Australia. When she was appointed, all but one member of Wales declared this unacceptable and three resigned in protest.

Political nomination

It is also alleged that his arrival amounts to a political appointment, which the Privy Council approved on Wednesday, May 22 – the day before a general election was called.

Plaut has been appointed for a four-year term from 1 June 2024 to 31 May 2028. A statement issued by the UK Government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: ‘Michael is a Welsh business leader with extensive experience in executive and non-executive positions across the sectors commercial and non-profit.

He has advised the governments in Westminster and Cardiff Bay on the Welsh economy and Welsh business. Michael regularly appeared in the media commenting on business and economic issues in Wales. As a global exporter, Michael travels widely and brings an international perspective.

“He is a former chairman of the Welsh Confederation of British Industry (CBI), is chairman of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and is a governor of the University of South Wales. Michael was born and raised in Wales. He began his career as an investment banker in London before returning to Wales to run a Wales-based company. He was awarded an OBE for services to business and entrepreneurship. At the invitation of the Secretary of State for Wales, he chaired a report to the British Government, Building a Prosperous Wales, on the Welsh economy. Michael lives and works in Wales.”

The statement added: “The basic salary for all non-executive directors of the BBC is £33,000 per annum. In addition to the basic salary, a remuneration of £5,000 is paid for chairing one of the Board’s standing committees.

“This appointment was made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments of the Cabinet Office. The appointment process is regulated by the Commissioner of Public Appointments.

“Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be reported. This is defined as including holding office, making public appearances, making a documentable donation or standing for election. Michael Plaut OBE has not declared any significant political activity.”

‘Delighted’

BBC chairman Samir Shah said: “I am thrilled to welcome Michael Plaut to the board. His experience in business, management and the arts in Wales will make him a valuable addition and I look forward to working with him.”

The BBC board consists of 14 members, including the chairman. The UK Government appoints four non-executive members to represent each of the nations of the UK.

The BBC will appoint a further five non-executive members and four BBC directors, including BBC Director-General Tim Davie.

The Board is responsible for ensuring that the BBC achieves its mission and the public objectives set out in the Articles of Association. This includes setting strategic direction for the BBC; creative task; British public service and World Service budgets; performance evaluation framework; standards for publishing and creative performance and services; complaint handling framework; policy relating to the distribution of public services in the UK; and the strategy and arrangements for managing the BBC’s commercial activities.

The board is also considering any proposals for significant changes to UK public services, trading and commercial activities.”

Honest

In the past, Plaut has openly criticized the Welsh Government from a right-wing perspective. In 2021, he told the Daily Telegraph: “Wales must stop relying on England to ‘save us’.” He said the decision not to proceed with the M4 decongestion road project in Newport showed that the Welsh Government had no desire to provide funding for Wales at its own expense.

“We are not heading in the right direction if we want to build a prosperous future for the nation,” he said. “At the moment, Wales is becoming less and less attractive as a place to run or relocate a business.

“Economically, Wales has not been able to stand on its own feet for many years. Business has therefore become irrelevant to politicians in Wales.

“We cannot rely on money from England. If you look at the Welsh budget, Wales spends much more than we receive. We cannot continue to expect England to save us.

“It’s just a change of attitude in terms of actually welcoming business. Not to see business as the enemy, but to see it as the answer to creating a prosperous future.

There seemed to be a discrepancy between the statements issued by the Welsh Government and the British Government.

“Strong Knowledge”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We are part of the advisor assessment panel. Applicants for a position as a member of the Wales Board must demonstrate a strong knowledge of the culture, characteristics and affairs of the people of Wales; understanding the views of audiences and public opinion in Wales; An understanding of media production in Wales in both Welsh and English, and the ability to bring an outside perspective to BBC partnerships in Wales, including with Welsh language broadcaster S4C.”

However, DCMS said: “The advisory review panel, which included an independent panel member and a representative of the Welsh Government, found Mr Plaut to be suitable for the post. The role specification did not specify knowledge of Welsh.”

A source in the Welsh broadcasting industry said: “This appointment is an insult to Wales. It’s appalling that this slipped through just before the general election was announced. It is clear from the criteria for this position that the person to be appointed should have a command of the Welsh language. Much of BBC Wales’ production is in Welsh, for Radio Cymru and S4C. How can a non-Welsh speaker understand Welsh language production if they don’t speak Welsh?

“It also seems clear that the current UK government wanted to appoint someone sympathetic to its world view ahead of a general election they are expected to lose.”

Another source suggested that the advisory panel presented two “appointable” candidates, but this one dropped out.