Culture Secretary blocks appointment of BAME woman onto Channel 4 Board but approves 4 white men - why?

Pressure is growing on Karen Bradley, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and MP for Staffordshire Moorlands, after she made the unusual decision of blocking the appointment of an Ofcom-recommended candidate onto the Channel 4 Board.  

Compounding the situation is the fact that the candidate-in-question, Althea Efunshile, former Deputy CEO of Arts Council England, is a female BAME applicant - while all other recomendees, white men, were accepted. 

This means the 13-strong Board will remain all white and comprise of only three women. The broadcaster, The Guardian understands, is disappointed, especially as its new Chairman, Charles Gurassa, has been brazen about his desire for more internal Boardroom diversity.

Yesterday a dozen of respected female figures in the arts and creative industries – including former politician Tessa Jowell; Gail Rebuck, Chairwoman of Penguin Random House UK; and broadcaster Joan Bakewell – signed a letter to her demanding an explanation.