Durkan signs Brand-Ross motion

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Foyle MP Mark Durkan has signed a commons motion calling for Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross to no longer be funded by the licence fee.

Mr Durkan is one of 15 MPs who signed a motion describing the presenters' behaviour as "base and vulgar".

Brand and Ross made a series of prank calls on Radio 2 to actor Andrew Sachs, 78, about his granddaughter.

The BBC has taken Brand and Ross's shows off air pending a full investigation.

Mr Durkan said he thought the presenters actions were "crass and crude".

"I also think it was downright insensitive to then make a joke about somebody potentially committing suicide," he said.

"The BBC should have acted decisively, but more importantly these two presenters should have acted decisively themselves.

"Rather than offering half-baked apologies they should have made a clear and straightforward gesture by either renouncing some of their own salary, or offering a very significant donation to relevant charities.

"This could have included charities dealing with the issue of suicide awareness and prevention."

More than 18,000 people complained to the BBC about the incident.

The motion was tabled by Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay and his Conservative counterpart Nigel Evans.