Why is this BBC man still uncut?

Four months ago, the BBC created a new post of Head of Orchestras and Choirs.

It was filled by Simon Webb, a sometime player in the London Philharmonic, latterly manager of the BBC Philharmonic in Manchester (where the music director left abruptly last summer).

Webb started work in January.

Yesterday, the BBC abolished the choir in his title and called for 20 redundancies in the orchestras.

But there is no suggestion that Webb should take a pay cut.

On the contrary, he has been credited by the BBC for devising the strategy by which his own responsibilities have been shrunk.

And there is more here than will ever meet the (private) eye.

Webb was detailed to take the flak for the cuts because the BBC’s departing head of classical music Alan Davey is too wimpish to face the heat. It was also necessary to get the business out of the way so that the new head of music, Sam Jackson, is not baptised in a bloodbath.

So big bold Webb stepped up and did the deed and the BBC is duly thankful. He might even get a bonus.