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Sir Michael Thomas Lyons (born 15 September 1949) is a British politician and former chairman of the BBC Trust (now the BBC Board). He currently serves as non-executive chairman of the English Cities Fund and chairs the board of the SQW Group.

A former British Labour Party councillor and council chief executive in the United Kingdom, he was involved in some of the key central government commissions and reports into local government finance from 2000 to 2007.

Career

Michael Lyons was educated at Stratford Grammar School, London, Middlesex University, and Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London. Whilst completing his formal education, he worked for two years as a part-time street trader at Bell St Market, London. Lyons then worked as a lecturer in economics at Wallbrook College, London, and the University of Nottingham.

Lyons worked in the public sector as an economist, and between 1980 and 1983 served as an elected Labour councillor on Birmingham City Council. He then became Chief Executive of three significant local authorities: Wolverhampton Borough Council (1985–90); Nottinghamshire County Council (1990–94); and finally Birmingham City Council (1994–2001).

In 2004 he was the chaired two successful government projects: the Review of Public Sector Relocation on behalf of the Chancellor and prime minister, and the Corporate Governance Commission on behalf of Cardiff City Council. He was Deputy Chairman of the Audit Commission for two years until October 2006, including a period as acting chairman. In March 2007, he published the final report and recommendations from his three-year independent inquiry into the future role, function and funding of local government.

Lyons was the Head of Inlogov, the leading Local Government Public Policy school in the United Kingdom at Birmingham University from 2001 to 2006, and was awarded an honorary LL.D by Birmingham University in 2009. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University.

Lyons served as a governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company as well as a non-executive director on the boards of Mouchel, Wragge & Co Solicitors and SQW Group Ltd. A former chairman of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and former member of the boards of City Pride, Birmingham Marketing Partnership and Millennium Point Property Trust Company, he was also previously a director of Central Independent Television, until 1993.

He was knighted in January 2000 for Services to Local Government.

In 2022 he chaired the Independent Review of Invest Northern Ireland.

BBC chairman

On 1 May 2007, Lyons was appointed Chairman of the BBC Trust, following Michael Grade's departure to become Executive Chairman of rival broadcaster ITV. On 3 August 2007, a House of Lords all-party select committee criticised the appointment process, claiming government ministers had too much influence over his appointment. Lyons dismissed the allegations, pledging "absolute independence and impartiality".

On 14 September 2010, Lyons announced that he would serve for only one four-year term and would not seek reappointment in May 2011. He was succeeded in May 2011 by Chris Patten.

Housing Commission

At Labour Party Conference 2013, the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, launched a Housing Commission to review public policy of Housing in the United Kingdom. Sir Michael Lyons headed this commission and published the report on 16 October 2014.

A summary of the initial parameters was given by Civic Voice:

Sir Michael Lyons has identified a number of key areas on which he would like to focus:

1. The land market
2. Investment in housing and infrastructure
3. The role of a new generation of New Towns and Garden Cities
4. Co-operation between adjoining local authorities in the planning process.
5. Sharing the benefit of development with local communities.

Personal

Lyons is married with three children and lives in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham.

References

1. Gardiner, Joey. "Why partnerships are key to fixing the housing crisis: an interview with Sir Michael Lyons". Building. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
2. "Our Board". SQW Group. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
3. ^ Youngs, Ian (5 April 2007). "New BBC chairman sets out stall". BBC News. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
4. Government of the United Kingdom (5 April 2007). "New Chair appointed to the BBC". Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
5. ^ "The Lyons Inquiry into Local Government". Retrieved 10 April 2007.
6. Profile, birmingham.ac.uk; accessed 30 December 2015.
7. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. "Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2007.
8. Mouchel (20 October 2006). "Sir Michael Lyons". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
9. ^ SQW Group (5 February 2007). "Sir Michael Lyons and Sir Williams Wells join SQW Group" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
10. Alleyne, Richard (5 April 2007). "Profile Michael Lyons". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
11. "BBC - Sir Michael Lyons appointed Chairman of BBC Trust - BBC Trust". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
12. "Independent Review of Invest NI". 9 January 2023.
13. "Sir Michael Lyons vows impartiality as BBC chairman". The Guardian. 5 April 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
14. BBC News (14 September 2010). "BBC Trust Chairman Sir Michael Lyons to step down". BBC News. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
15. "Civic Voice, The Lyons Housing Review What you need to know" (PDF). Retrieved 17 October 2017.

• 1949 births
• Living people
• Chairmen of the BBC
• Trustees of the British Broadcasting Corporation
• Academics of the University of Birmingham
• Alumni of Middlesex University
• Alumni of Queen Mary University of London
• Knights Bachelor
• Local government officers in England
• Councillors in Birmingham, West Midlands
• Labour Party (UK) councillors
• Chief officers of local government bodies in the United Kingdom