Is Lord Carter leaving the Government for the private sector?

12 Jun 2009 | 08.38 Europe/London

The Times is reporting this morning that Stephen Carter is to leave the Government. Although he refused to confirm the news — "I'm beavering away feverishly on my report, that’s my only preoccupation,” — it is thought that, once the final part of the Digital Britain report is released, on Tuesday, that he will return to the private sector.

The former OFCOM head refused to confirm rumours that he has already secured himself a new job, although there is speculation that he will either head up ITV or go to Brussels. Another story doing the rounds is that the 45-year-old peer is heading for Australia: his wife is from there, and, coincidentally, the leading ISP is looking for a new head honcho.

Carter, the one-time chief exec of Brunswick PR was appointed by Gordon Brown 18 months ago as his chief of strategy, but is rumoured to have clashed with the PM's now discredited spin doctor Damien McBride over attempts to show Brown in a better light. In October 2007 he was ennobled and made communications minister with a special brief to sort out internet and media regulation.

[Times Online]