Dame Margaret Hodge [Richard Townshend]

DAME Margaret Hodge OBE, the former leader of Islington Council, has been tipped to be the next chair of media regulator Ofcom.

Dame Margaret, who served as Town Hall leader between 1982 and 1992, has been pitted against Conservative MP and ex-minister Jeremy Wright for the role.

Current Ofcom chair Michael Grade’s term will end on April 26, and the government is expected to make a decision on his successor “very soon”.

Dame Margaret, 81, is a current Labour peer and previously held several ministerial positions, including minister for children. She faced controversy for her role in covering up a mass child abuse scandal whilst leader of Islington Council, for which she has since apologised multiple times.

The Guardian reported this week that several cross-party sources with knowledge of the Online Safety Act are attempting to persuade culture secretary Liz Kendall to appoint Mr Wright, who they feel is more suited to the role than Dame Margaret due to his involvement in writing the act.

Ofcom has come under fire in recent weeks and months for its failure to restrict non-partisan broadcast reporting from stations such as GB News as well as its inability to effectively regulate online harm.

In the past, Dame Margaret has called for a ban on online anonymity and supported holding social media chiefs liable for online abuse.