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| BBC must 'look very hard at itself' over pay gap, says Jeremy Corbyn | BBC must 'look very hard at itself' over pay gap, says Jeremy Corbyn |
| (6 months later) | |
| Labour leader describes ‘appalling’ gender pay gap as 40 female presenters demand immediate action at BBC | |
| Jessica Elgot | |
| Sun 23 Jul 2017 14.48 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 19.41 GMT | |
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| The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, says the BBC needs to “look very hard at itself” over the gender pay gap, describing the gulf between men’s and women’s pay as appalling. | The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, says the BBC needs to “look very hard at itself” over the gender pay gap, describing the gulf between men’s and women’s pay as appalling. |
| Household names including Newsnight presenters Emily Maitlis and Kirsty Wark, presenters Clare Balding and Angela Rippon and One Show host Alex Jones are among more than 40 women who have written to the director general, Tony Hall, to demand the BBC act to correct the pay gap. It was coordinated by Woman’s Hour host Jane Garvey. | Household names including Newsnight presenters Emily Maitlis and Kirsty Wark, presenters Clare Balding and Angela Rippon and One Show host Alex Jones are among more than 40 women who have written to the director general, Tony Hall, to demand the BBC act to correct the pay gap. It was coordinated by Woman’s Hour host Jane Garvey. |
| Revolting #bbcwomen https://t.co/rz9xkaOreY | Revolting #bbcwomen https://t.co/rz9xkaOreY |
| Corbyn said he would add his name to the letter written after revelations this week that stars such as the former Top Gear presenter Chris Evans took home more than £2m while its highest-paid female star, Claudia Winkleman, received £450,000 - £499,999. | Corbyn said he would add his name to the letter written after revelations this week that stars such as the former Top Gear presenter Chris Evans took home more than £2m while its highest-paid female star, Claudia Winkleman, received £450,000 - £499,999. |
| He said Labour would insist on a pay audit of every organisation – public or private sector. “We’d also look at a 20:1 ratio between the chief executive and the lowest-paid staff in every public sector organisation,” he said. | He said Labour would insist on a pay audit of every organisation – public or private sector. “We’d also look at a 20:1 ratio between the chief executive and the lowest-paid staff in every public sector organisation,” he said. |
| At least 400 BBC employees earn less than a hundredth of what the corporation pays Evans, according to figures revealed by broadcasting union Bectu last week. | At least 400 BBC employees earn less than a hundredth of what the corporation pays Evans, according to figures revealed by broadcasting union Bectu last week. |
| BBC presenter Andrew Marr defended his high salary during his programme on Sunday, saying his salary of up to £499,999 was because of his experience. However, he said older women were far less likely to have lengthy careers in broadcasting, putting them at a disadvantage. | BBC presenter Andrew Marr defended his high salary during his programme on Sunday, saying his salary of up to £499,999 was because of his experience. However, he said older women were far less likely to have lengthy careers in broadcasting, putting them at a disadvantage. |
| “I’m a bit grizzled, going a bit weird around the edges,” he said. “But if I had been born Audrey Marr rather than Andrew Marr, I would have been out 10 years ago. There’s a real lack of older women on the screen.” | “I’m a bit grizzled, going a bit weird around the edges,” he said. “But if I had been born Audrey Marr rather than Andrew Marr, I would have been out 10 years ago. There’s a real lack of older women on the screen.” |
| Conservative former minister Anna Soubry, who used to be a television presenter, said she kept a “very beady eye” on pay levels when she was a mother of the chapel at a branch of the National Union of Journalists. “I just wonder whether or not the de-unionisation of many places of work ... they played an important point in making sure there was fairness,” she said. | Conservative former minister Anna Soubry, who used to be a television presenter, said she kept a “very beady eye” on pay levels when she was a mother of the chapel at a branch of the National Union of Journalists. “I just wonder whether or not the de-unionisation of many places of work ... they played an important point in making sure there was fairness,” she said. |
| The letter from BBC presenters, which many tweeted on Sunday morning, said the women were seeking to address the imbalance to change the system for future generations. | The letter from BBC presenters, which many tweeted on Sunday morning, said the women were seeking to address the imbalance to change the system for future generations. |
| “The pay details released in the annual report showed what many of us have suspected for many years ... that women at the BBC are being paid less than men for the same work,” it reads. | “The pay details released in the annual report showed what many of us have suspected for many years ... that women at the BBC are being paid less than men for the same work,” it reads. |
| “Compared to many women and men, we are very well compensated and fortunate. However, this is an age of equality and the BBC is an organisation that prides itself on its values. You have said that you will ‘sort’ the gender pay gap by 2020, but the BBC has known about the pay disparity for years. We all want to go on the record to call upon you to act now.” | “Compared to many women and men, we are very well compensated and fortunate. However, this is an age of equality and the BBC is an organisation that prides itself on its values. You have said that you will ‘sort’ the gender pay gap by 2020, but the BBC has known about the pay disparity for years. We all want to go on the record to call upon you to act now.” |
| Other stars who have signed the letter include Today presenters Mishal Husain and Sarah Montague, Wimbledon host Sue Barker, newsreader Fiona Bruce, 5Live presenter Emma Barnett and Europe editor Katya Adler. | Other stars who have signed the letter include Today presenters Mishal Husain and Sarah Montague, Wimbledon host Sue Barker, newsreader Fiona Bruce, 5Live presenter Emma Barnett and Europe editor Katya Adler. |
| BBC political correspondent Vicki Young said the pay gap had made her “angry and depressed”, while Garvey tweeted that the gap was revolting. Wark said the letter was a “billet doux” sent out of concern for all female employees at the BBC. Radio 4 presenter Andrea Catherwood said she hoped women across all industries would find it empowering. | BBC political correspondent Vicki Young said the pay gap had made her “angry and depressed”, while Garvey tweeted that the gap was revolting. Wark said the letter was a “billet doux” sent out of concern for all female employees at the BBC. Radio 4 presenter Andrea Catherwood said she hoped women across all industries would find it empowering. |
| So angry and depressed this is happening at #bbc feels like we've been duped - words about equality not enough #bbcwomen https://t.co/kTeOYRrH78 | So angry and depressed this is happening at #bbc feels like we've been duped - words about equality not enough #bbcwomen https://t.co/kTeOYRrH78 |
| I hope this empowers ALL women to go into work tomorrow, look their boss in the eye and ask if they are getting paid the same as the men. https://t.co/zp8lNJQKJ3 | I hope this empowers ALL women to go into work tomorrow, look their boss in the eye and ask if they are getting paid the same as the men. https://t.co/zp8lNJQKJ3 |
| #bbcwomen this billet doux is for ALL women at @BBC | #bbcwomen this billet doux is for ALL women at @BBC |
| Balding said the 2020 target given by the BBC to achieve equal pay was not good enough, given that the Equal Pay Act was enacted in 1970 and the Equality Act in 2010. “We’re standing together to politely suggest they can do better,” she said. | Balding said the 2020 target given by the BBC to achieve equal pay was not good enough, given that the Equal Pay Act was enacted in 1970 and the Equality Act in 2010. “We’re standing together to politely suggest they can do better,” she said. |
| The education secretary, Justine Greening, who is also equalities minister, told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News it was “impossible not to be shocked” at the gulf that existed between the highest-paid women and men at the BBC and said it was justification for requiring the BBC to release its salary details. | The education secretary, Justine Greening, who is also equalities minister, told Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Sky News it was “impossible not to be shocked” at the gulf that existed between the highest-paid women and men at the BBC and said it was justification for requiring the BBC to release its salary details. |
| “I think it has already kicked off a debate for the BBC about these differentials and the steps they will now need to look at taking to close them, but it is very hard to justify some of the big gaps that we saw,” Greening said. | “I think it has already kicked off a debate for the BBC about these differentials and the steps they will now need to look at taking to close them, but it is very hard to justify some of the big gaps that we saw,” Greening said. |
| The BBC said it was confident that rapid changes would be made. “The BBC’s workforce has been hired over generations and this is complex and cannot be done overnight,” a spokesperson said. | The BBC said it was confident that rapid changes would be made. “The BBC’s workforce has been hired over generations and this is complex and cannot be done overnight,” a spokesperson said. |
| “We are, however, confident that when these figures are published again next year, they will show significant progress towards that goal. Tony Hall meets staff all the time and will of course meet individuals to hear their thoughts as we work to accelerate change.” | “We are, however, confident that when these figures are published again next year, they will show significant progress towards that goal. Tony Hall meets staff all the time and will of course meet individuals to hear their thoughts as we work to accelerate change.” |
| BBC | |
| Jeremy Corbyn | |
| Gender | |
| Pay | |
| Discrimination at work | |
| Women in journalism | |
| news | |
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