WCXX

Lord Patten made the mistake of assuming that press attacks on BBC greed and mismanagement were attacks on the corporation itself rather than an attempt to clean it up (MPs previously made the same error, in claiming that their exposure as expenses cheats by this newspaper was an attack on Parliament, rather than their own greed). This is the main reason, along with idleness and inertia, why Lord Patten failed to confront the debauched senior management culture.

His departure means there is now a wonderful opportunity to restore the principles of high public service and integrity that have traditionally lain at the heart of one of our greatest institutions. Sajid Javid, the new Culture Secretary, must use this opportunity to collapse the BBC Trust, one of the more disastrous results of the constitutional tinkering embarked on by Tony Blair. One of the worst consequences of its creation (probably deliberately so) was that nobody has known who is responsible for what. On the one hand, the Trust is supposed to stand up for the licence-fee payer; on the other, for the BBC itself. The hapless Lord Patten was never able to resolve this contradiction.

There is no earthly reason why the new BBC chairman should come from the usual charmed circles. Lord Reith, the corporation's first and greatest leader, was an engineer who had never been to university. Britain needs a commanding figure at the top of the BBC who can end the culture of metropolitan conformity that has brought it to its knees – who will cancel the rule which apparently requires the corporation's executives to sport three-day beards, closely shaved heads, and (like senior members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard) wear dark suits, starched white shirts, but no tie, while commissioning programmes that are invariably "innovative", "counter-intuitive" and "challenge boundaries".

I only wish, however, that I could feel confident in the selection process. This is in the hands of Mr Javid, who knows nothing about broadcasting or (as far as I can tell) anything much about music, literature or the arts. It is hard to think of anyone less qualified for the post.

It is important to understand, however, that Mr Javid is in the Cabinet because, and only because, he has been placed there by George Osborne. So while it is Mr Cameron who will nominally make the decision as to Lord Patten's successor, everybody at Westminster knows (but does not say) that it is Mr Osborne who will actually decide the identity of the next chairman of the BBC Trust.

Unfortunately, nothing in Mr Osborne's record creates confidence that his judgment can be relied on in media matters. He was one of the most senior members of that wretched coterie of senior Conservative politicians who assiduously cultivated Rupert Murdoch's media executives in the run-up to the last election. He was responsible for hiring Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor who is now facing criminal charges, to work as the Tories' director of communications. Another close contact and supporter was James Harding, then editor of the Times, and now head of news and current affairs at the BBC.

I doubt very much that Mr Osborne, the man who appointed Coulson, will make his decision with the interests of the BBC – or the nation – at heart. At present, the Chancellor has two primary preoccupations. As David Cameron's election adviser, he is fighting hard to win next year's ballot. He is also determined to succeed Mr Cameron as Tory leader. Both these objectives are honourable. But neither is consistent with Mr Osborne having any role – formal or informal – in the choice of the next BBC chairman. The corporation is a great national institution, and must not fall prey to partisan Tory interests.

This crisis has arisen because Mr Cameron has chosen to govern in a most peculiar way: he plays virtually no role in choosing members of his own Government. The selection of Lib Dem ministers, under the terms of the Coalition agreement, is made by Nick Clegg. Meanwhile, Mr Cameron has allowed his Chancellor to choose new entrants to the Cabinet and determine junior promotions.

The Prime Minister likes to spend time with his family, and may well have been happy to allow Mr Osborne to build up a power base before taking over the leadership in due course.

It is, however, unacceptable that the Chancellor, or his instrument Javid, should have any involvement with the future of the BBC. Mr Cameron must take this matter into his own hands.