Downing Street source had suggested a leftwing director general would be swiftly ousted

No 10 has insisted that it will not seek to interfere in the BBC’s choice for director general, after an anonymous Downing Street source threatened that if a leftwinger were selected then a government-appointed board chairman would
fire them next year.
Boris Johnson’s official spokesman said the choice of a director general was a “matter for the BBC”, after Tony Hall unexpectedly announced on Monday that he would step down this summer.