Beeb chief Hall to quit as over-75s are forced to pay TV licence fee
RADIO presenter Libby Purves has warned that queues of women taking action against the BBC for historic equal pay will “choke creativity” at the corporation.
The Radio 4 host, 69, says although the inequality needs to be addressed, she does not think women should seek back pay in cases such as presenter Samira Ahmed’s earlier this month.
Samira, 51, who fronted the BBC’s audience feedback programme Newswatch, had claimed she was underpaid by £700,000, compared with Jeremy Vine’s £3,000-a-show fee for Points OfView.
She took the corporation to an employment tribunal, which found in her favour.
Writing in Radio Times, Libby says: “Samira Ahmed had a right to bring her case against the BBC. Particularly so after recent evidence that, in far more compelling cases, pay had indeed drifted into absurd inequality.
“Maybe this was due to slapdash management, combined with the less-grasping habits of females.
“It needed sorting out. As [BBC presenter] Sarah Montague remarked, nobody likes ‘feeling like a sap’.”
Libby, however, says the employment tribunal’s ruling that Samira should have been paid the same as Jeremy “raises an eyebrow”.
She writes: “The bald fact is that in public entertainment, ocular glintiness always was gold dust. And, admirable as she is, Ms Ahmed has less of it.
“The real kicker in all this is
TONY Hall yesterday announced he was quitting as director-general of the BBC amid a turbulent time for the broadcaster.
The 68-year-old will step down in six months – around the time the corporation will controversially start charging over-75s for a TV licence.
He will step down to become chairman of the board of trustees at London’s National Gallery.
Over his seven years at the BBC helm he has faced several crises, including the fallout from the Jimmy Savile scandal, equal pay disputes, accusations of political bias and questions over the long-term future of the TV licence.
He said it was a “hard decision” to make but that he wanted to put “the interests of the organisation first”.
In a message to staff he said he felt he was “leaving the BBC in a much stronger place than when I joined”. He added: “It her claim for £700,000 in back pay, on the principle either that she’s just as glinty as Vine, or that glints don’t matter. It’s a lot of money.
“There are another 100 women with claims – zeros multiply before the terrified eyes of BBC accountants.
“Thousands upon thousands of licence fees – programmemaking money, news and fun and wisdom money, will go up in smoke.
“It may be virtuous feminist smoke, but it still chokes creativity.” Libby says she was well aware male Radio 4 presenters were paid more than her when she worked on the Today show.
But her job was “fun and special” and she says she could not be bothered to complain.
Angry
Libby admits her comments will probably irritate many of her colleagues.
She writes: “There has been injustice towards women.
“The question, I suppose, is whether it’s enough to draw the line once you’ve had that acknowledged and amended for the future?
“Or are you so angry with the management and the graspingly glinty blokes who milked it dry that you’ll milk every penny yourself from the poor old worried BBC, and hang the consequences?”
She adds: “Maybe some of the remaining 100 women still working will make that choice. Meanwhile, it’s the tin hat and the bunker for me.” £154.50 for a licence for the first time in 20 years.Those caught without one face a £1,000 fine or imprisonment.
The move has sparked anger from campaigners, including former Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman, who branded the move “outrageous”.
MPs also criticised Lord Hall for his handling of negotiations after threatening to close channels and make job cuts unless older pensioners were made to pay the fee.
Lord Hall’s decision to step down comes as the Government reviews whether non-payment of the TV licence fee should be decriminalised.
BBC Chairman Sir David Clementi said Lord Hall was an “inspirational creative leader” as he announced a job advert for the next director-general would be posted in the next few weeks.
Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan thanked Lord Hall for his “huge contribution” to public broadcasting.
‘Money to make programmes will go up in smoke’