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Sugar: I'm not joining government Sugar 'must choose' between jobs
(about 5 hours later)
Sir Alan Sugar has told the BBC he is not joining the government, despite accepting a job from Gordon Brown as "enterprise tsar" in the reshuffle. The Conservatives say Sir Alan Sugar must choose between working for the government and working for the BBC as the star of The Apprentice.
The Apprentice star told the BBC: "I wouldn't join the government, I don't see this as a political thing." They say his new role as an "enterprise tsar" for the government is "completely incompatible" with BBC rules.
He said he was simply acting as an adviser and wanted to help small businesses and entrepreneurs. Sir Alan, who will also be made a lord, denied he was joining the government.
Sir Alan told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show that his new post would not affect his role in The Apprentice. "As far as I'm concerned, this is politically neutral. All I want to do is to try and help businesses and enterprise," he told the BBC.
The Daily Telegraph reports that the BBC is consider whether Sir Alan can continue appearing in the show. News of Sir Alan's appointment came on Friday as Gordon Brown reshuffled his cabinet.
But Sir Alan said had checked with the BBC before accepting the role to ascertain that it would not jeopardise his position on the show. 'Not political'
Asked whether it had been a publicity stunt, Sir Alan told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "It's a shame it looks like that but I'm sure that ... you know I'm not the type of person to be used.
"I have a passion and commitment to try and help small businesses and enterprise to see if we can get things moving again."
Sir Alan Sugar needs to make a choice between his role in The Apprentice and his role as the government's business tsar Jeremy HuntConservatives Sir Alan hired in government role
He denied he had joined the government, saying: "I wouldn't join the government, I don't see this as a political thing."
He said he made it "perfectly clear" to Mr Brown that he would not compromise his position on The Apprentice - the BBC show that Sir Alan fronts.
He said he had spoken to the BBC in advance for guidelines on the issue adding: "It's very simple - all I am is an adviser, I'm not a policymaker."
Asked whether he would become a peer, Sir Alan replied: "That's what I hear."
Asked whether he would continue in the "enterprise tsar" role under a Conservative government, Sir Alan - who said he had known Mr Brown for years - said: "As far as I'm concerned this is politically neutral. All I want to do is try and help business and entrepreneurs."Asked whether he would continue in the "enterprise tsar" role under a Conservative government, Sir Alan - who said he had known Mr Brown for years - said: "As far as I'm concerned this is politically neutral. All I want to do is try and help business and entrepreneurs."
On the Tory leader he said: "I have never met Mr Cameron and I don't know anything about him."On the Tory leader he said: "I have never met Mr Cameron and I don't know anything about him."
But the Conservatives said Sir Alan's role on The Apprentice was now "completely incompatible" with BBC rules.
Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: "Presenting a programme for the BBC and working for the government on the same issue is totally incompatible with the BBC's rules on political independence and impartiality.
"Sir Alan Sugar needs to make a choice between his role in The Apprentice and his role as the government's business tsar."
He said he had written to BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons to ask "as a matter of urgency to explain who at the BBC gave guidance to Sir Alan and whether he had informed them that he would be a Labour peer".