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Suddenly the revenge motive began to play. Until last week, culture secretary Tessa Jowell had distanced herself from a scandal that could yet sweep away some of the upper reaches of government. And then she gave way to temptation and, with others, dropped a broad hint that the future of the BBC government was linked to the findings of the Hutton inquiry.

It was a big mistake that made the government look like a bullying banana republic. We can't stop the BBC governors defending the editorial independence of the corporation, but we will exact our revenge.

By the weekend, following a stirring counterattack by BBC chairman Gavyn Davies, Jowell withdrew and said there was "absolutely no question" of the review being influenced by the Gilligan affair. It was still a little unfortunate to have earlier given the impression that the Charter review might not be an entirely open-minded process. Yet, in one important sense, the case of the "sexed-up" Iraqi dossier will, and should, influence the ultimate fate of the BBC governors.

It was more than possible for a sensible person to look at the Communications Bill and see the governors as a bit of an anomaly. If we are going to have a modern, transparent, converged regulator, why do we need to give such power and influence at the heart of the broadcasting system to a collection of the great and good?

There have been particular worries that the governors have done virtually nothing to curb the expansion of the BBC's commercial interests. Maybe it was simply time to bring the BBC under the aegis of Ofcom, something the government has always said should be properly discussed during a Charter review.

It's time for minds, including my own, to change. Abolition of the governors should no longer be considered even as an option. They have proved that this strange British institution actually works in the most vital situation of all - standing up for the editorial independence of the BBC in the face of a bullying government.

Ofcom has scarcely been properly formed yet, so it is premature to say it would be incapable of fulfilling a similar role. But it is now clear that this would simply be too great a risk to take - too great a concentration of power in one pair of hands. It now has no less than 263 duties and responsibilities.

The most important issue is the composition of the board of governors: 12 people who have generally distinguished themselves in their chosen walks of life and are not beholden to anyone. Their resolute backing of the BBC's management is so much more important than disputes about who said what to whom.

This bizarre British form of governance has now earned its right to a central place in the BBC's next Royal Charter. It's the most hopeful thing to come out of a sorry affair that reflects so little credit on others.