Has Sarah finally closed the BBC gender pay gap?
SHe has been vociferous in her opposition to the BBC’s record on the gender pay gap.
But Sarah Smith’s appointment as replacement for fellow Scot andrew neil on the Sunday Politics show may help redress the balance.
the BBC’s Scotland editor takes on the lucrative role next month and is expected to appear on the so-called ‘rich list’ of top-paid BBC talent next year – meaning she will be picking up £150,000 or more.
It is not clear if she will earn as much as Mr neil, who made up to £250,000 a year hosting Sunday Politics, Daily Politics and this Week.
But Miss Smith’s appointment is tipped to anger critics who claim the BBC is already too Left-leaning – her late father was former Labour leader John Smith. the corporation has a former Labour Cabinet secretary as its radio chief with a tendency to be anti-Brexit on air.
Miss Smith, 49, has been outspoken in her criticism of the gender pay gap at the BBC, after revelations last month about huge discrepancies between male and female presenters’ salaries.
She was one of more than 40 BBC women who co-signed a letter to director-general Lord Hall demanding immediate action. She also told an equality conference last month that the BBC’s handling of the row had been ‘astonishing’.
She added: ‘It’s also illegal to pay women less for doing equal work with men… there is also the initial problem of women not being promoted into positions they want.
‘[the BBC] knew they were going to get this amount of publicity and yet they still seem to have done absolutely nothing about it.’
Miss Smith said Mr neil left ‘big shoes to fill’, adding: ‘I am thrilled to take on this role at such an exciting time in British politics.’
the BBC said Mr neil would continue to present Daily Politics and this Week but had decided it was the ‘right time’ to cut back.