Hunt submits BBC Trust choice to No 10

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has reportedly submitted his preferred choice for the new chair of the BBC Trust to Number 10, with speculation suggesting that Chris Patten is leading the field.

Hunt has already interviewed the candidates for the job and passed on his preference to David Cameron, who sources claim is now "deliberating" on the successor to Sir Michael Lyons, reports The Guardian.

Patten, the last governor of Hong Kong, appears to be the frontrunner for the role, but CBI director general Sir Richard Lambert and Dame Patricia Hodge are also in contention.

Cameron will have to decide who takes on the role in the coming days, but the choice is rapidly turning into a politically-sensitive issue.

The Conservative party's traditional Eurosceptic lobby is thought to be unhappy with the selection of Patten, who is chancellor of Oxford University and a Europe enthusiast.

One unnamed senior Conservative MP said: "If the BBC post goes to another pro-European then there is little chance of him curbing the BBC's own bias in approach towards Europe."

The Eurospectics are also concerned at the selection of a "one nation"-style Conservative, who may have more connection to Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs.

Labour would prefer the job not going to a Conservative at all, but are believed to view Patten as a high profile enough figure to stand up for the BBC's interests.

On March 10, Cameron's chosen candidate will be grilled by the Commons culture media and sport select committee, which will issue a report stating whether it supports the appointment or not.