BBC presenter in tax case attempted suicide
BBC presenters attempted suicide and suffered “irreparable damage” because of the corporation’s handling of their tax affairs, MPS have been told. The corporation stands accused by 21 workers of forcing them to set up “personal service companies” or risk losing their jobs. Many have since been pursued by the taxman for thousands of pounds and one radio presenter told a culture select committee hearing yesterday that it had been a factor in a suicide attempt.
BBC presenters attempted suicide and suffered “irreparable damage” because of the corporation’s “horrific” handling of their tax affairs, MPS have been told.
The corporation today stands accused by 21 workers, including prominent presenters, of forcing them to set up “personal service companies” or risk losing their jobs.
Many have since been pursued by the taxman for thousands of pounds in unpaid dues. One presenter said it had been a factor in a suicide attempt, while another said in their “darkest days” they, too, had contemplated suicide.
Another worker accused the BBC of a “brazen attempt” to minimise its own tax bill by forcing presenters to set up a personal service company. The presenters were giving evidence to the culture select committee ahead of further hearings today. The committee has published damning correspondence in which the BBC made clear presenters risked their jobs if they failed to set up personal service companies.
One was told in 2012 there was “no wiggle room” and another was warned they would only be engaged if they set up a personal services company.
Damian Collins, a Tory MP and chairman of the select committee, said: “The evidence presented gives a distressing insight into the effect the protracted discussions on pay have had on staff and their families. Some have faced working without contracts and pay for extended periods, causing untold stress and financial insecurity.”
One radio presenter said she was forced to set up a personal service company in 2011, as failure to do so would lose her the job. She said: “I have loved working for the BBC but the way they have behaved has reduced me to more than tears. It’s one of the factors that three days ago took me into my loft where I tried to hang myself.”
Another presenter said: “In the darkest of days and the spectre of retrospective action from HMRC hanging over me daily, I contemplated taking my life.”
A presenter of a flagship BBC show told how she paid national insurance contributions but received no holiday, sick or maternity pay. She said: “Over many years I have been utterly let down, and mistreated by the corporation… it has done irreparable damage to me.”
Charles Nove, a newsreader at BBC Radio Oxford, said he feared being made homeless because the corporation was seeking to recoup tax and national insurance on his earnings.
Samira Ahmed, a presenter of the BBC’S Newswatch, said she was told in March 2012 that she had to use a personal services company. In October 2016 she said the BBC subsequently tried to make her go on contract, which would mean a significant cut in pay. She said: “I felt hugely bullied... it got to
‘It’s one of the factors that three days ago took me into my loft where I tried to hang myself ’
the stage that my boss was ringing me on the phone saying, ‘if you don’t sign in the next few minutes I’m going to have to confirm another presenter for the show next week’.”
The committee today hears evidence from Liz Kershaw, Kirsty Lang, and Paul Lewis, who presents Money Box.
The BBC declined to appear before the committee, instead announcing a review that could see it contribute to some presenters’ bills. In a statement to the committee the BBC said: “We’ve always tried to balance our responsibilities to presenters with our responsibility to spend the licence fee appropriately.”
Personal service companies exist where a worker sets up a limited company as some hirers prefer not to have an employment relationship, according to accountants Nixon Williams.