MPs condemn ‘grotesque’ pay gap at BBC

TV star to give up meat on Mondays

Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has said the “grotesque” and ongoing unfairness in pay at the BBC is offensive.

A report by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) claims women at the broadcaster are not receiving the same pay for the same work.

The report describes a culture of “invidious” pay discrimination against women at the BBC.

Mr McDonnell said: “I think most of us find it offensive that the BBC haven’t resolved this already. There’s grotesque levels of unfairness and I don’t understand why it’s dragging on for so long.”

The BBC has also come under further scrutiny as media regular Ofcom released their annual findings on the corporation hours after the DCMS report and said the “BBC is not always transparent and accountable, particularly when it is proposing to change or introduce public services”.

An inquiry into equal pay at the corporation was launched by the committee following the resignation of former China editor Carrie Gracie.

Conservative MP and chairman of the DCMS Committee Damian Collins said “household names” are scared to speak out on gender equality as it could put their careers at risk.

The BBC said: “While we still have more to do, much of this report is already out of date.

“Recent disclosures by other media organisations show that the BBC’s gender pay gap is amongst the smallest and well below the national average. But we do hold ourselves to a higher standard.” Paddy McGuinness has pledged to give up meat on

Mondays to help the environment.

The presenter, right, who earlier this week was announced as

Top Gear’s new host, tweeted:

“Morning! I know it’s not much towards staving off global warming but I’m going to give meat-free Mondays a whirl.”

The Meat Free Monday initiative was launched in 2009 by Sir Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney to raise awareness of the environmental impact of eating meat and to inspire people to consume less.

John McDonnell