Patten is named as choice to lead Trust

Former Hong Kong governor Lord Patten is the Government's preferred candidate to succeed Sir Michael Lyons as chairman of the BBC Trust. He will appear before the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee next month in a pre-appointment hearing.

A former Conservative MP and Cabinet minister, he lost his seat in the 1992 election. His pro-European views put him at odds with many in his party but no serious opposition to his appointment is expected.

The BBC Trust operates as the voice of the licence fee-payer, setting BBC strategy and top-level budgets and appointing the director-general.