MP calls for public funded salaries to be published
Jun 11 2009 by Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Post
An MP is hoping to turn the tables on BBC journalists who have hounded politicians over their expenses, by demanding to know how much they are paid.
Roger Godsiff (Lab Sparkbrook and Small Heath) said the pay and conditions of high-earners working for any publicly-funded body should be published.
This would include top council officials, headteachers of large schools and hospital managers.
But he admitted the call for greater transparency was prompted by concern about the salaries the BBC paid to its staff. BBC News 24 presenter Carrie Gracie surprised many MPs when she revealed live on air that she was paid £92,000 a year, during a bad-tempered interview over expenses.
The presenter was speaking to Labour peer Lord Foulkes, who pointed out that she was paid from public funds just like MPs, and challenged her to reveal how much she earned – which she did.
But her response raised questions about the BBC’s use of licence-payers’ money, as Ms Gracie is not a household name.
MPs asked how much senior presenters such as John Humphrys or Jeremy Paxman were paid – but the BBC refused to say.
The BBC has always refused to disclose the salaries of its presenters, insisting that the information is commercially sensitive whenever freedom of information requests are submitted.
Mr Godsiff has sponsored a House of Commons motion calling for the publication of “all salaries and remuneration packages paid to individuals” when their pay comes from public funds, if they earn more than three times the national average wage.
The average salary is currently £25,123, which means anyone earning £75,369 or more would be included.
He said: “When that BBC presenter said she earned £92,000, it certainly did raise eyebrows.
“A lot of people thought that was a lot of money for someone who is a fairly junior BBC presenter.
“We are moving into an era of total transparency, and there’s no reason that shouldn’t apply to everyone.
“If you work for a private business then the details are between you and them. But if it is public money then the public has a right to know.”
He said he was confident the prospect of revealing their salary would not stop people accepting top jobs in the public sector.
