‘Not right’ that BBC man earns more than ambassador
THE BBC must bring down the pay of its top journalists, the new Culture Secretary said yesterday, arguing that it is unacceptable for the corporation’s foreign editors to earn more than British ambassadors to the same countries.
On his first day in the job, Matt Hancock waded into the BBC pay row, saying: “This isn’t just a matter of levelling women’s pay – it is a matter of equality. Working for the BBC is public service and a great privilege, yet some men at the BBC are paid far more than other equivalent public servants. The BBC has begun to act and I welcome that, but more action is needed, especially when BBC foreign editors can earn more than Her Majesty’s ambassadors in the same jurisdiction.”
His intervention came as Lord Hall, the BBC director-general, was asked to appear before a Commons select committee alongside Carrie Gracie, who this week resigned as China editor after learning she is paid at least 50 per cent less than her male counterparts.
Jon Sopel, the BBC’S North America editor, earns £200,000-£249,999 per year. Sir Kim Darroch, Britain ambassador to the US, earns £180,000£184,999. Gracie was earning £135,000 per year – more than Dame Barbara Wooding, ambassador to China, whose salary is £120,000-£124,999.
Gracie will be paid £145,000 as a London-based presenter on the BBC News Channel – a £10,000 raise but commensurate with the salaries of male newsroom colleagues. She said she would be “very willing” to take a pay cut if BBC News “redistributes its wage bill towards the less well paid”.
Yesterday Winifred Robinson, presenter of Radio 4 show You and Yours, was taken off air ahead of a discussion on gender pay due to impartiality rules, because she had posted her views on it on Twitter a day earlier.