I am not embarrassed to admit that during my delicious two week Christmas vacation, I deliberately tried to remove myself from all news sources in order to give my fragile brain some well deserved recuperation. However, despite my best efforts to take up residence in my holiday home of current affairs denial, all it took was a family debate on BBC salaries to well and truly grind my gears and get me back in the swing of things.
No doubt you will already realise I am referring to Ms James’ public disgust that 37 BBC executives – not including on-air talent HEAVEN FOREFEND – earned more than the Prime Minister’s salary of £198,000, with more than 300 being paid over £100,000.
Whoa – lets hold onto those wild horses one second. Firstly, and most importantly. lets put the PM’s salary into context. Poor old Gordy isn’t exactly taking one for the team, roughing it up and just scraping by receiving £130,594 in Prime Minister’s salary, and £61,820 as MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath is he? In fact, that mullah he receives pretty much gets well and truly banked. Its not like he has much outgoings for the likes of rent and utilities (does he??) and he can be safely assured of raking in the cash when his term ends with book deals; speaking opportunities… or Christmas lights, whatever.
Will any of the BBC bosses be so fortunate? I think not. Leave them be and stop using the PM’s salary shepherd’s crook of a pay packet as a yardstick – its not fair on the people who have worked their arses off and truly deserve their triple-figure salaries.
Does the PM get paid enough to scrape by? http://goo.gl/fb/hLo5 (@claire_liz)
This comment was originally posted on Twitter
The departure of J. Ross Esq may help ease the BBC salary debate a little no doubt. Or is he the fall guy for fat cats? Pwobably not.
Mr Ross deserves his money ;o)
Seriously though, in last night’s Guardian MediaTalk podcast even (Nasty) Nigel Lythgoe was saying that everyone’s salary to compared to the PM… Rubbish, rubbish, rubbish – different comparison required!