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BBC Trust rules out bid to recoup from George Entwistle payout BBC Trust rules out bid to recoup from George Entwistle payout
(35 minutes later)
The BBC Trust will not seek to recoup a portion of the £450,000 payout to oust former director general George Entwistle, after lawyers for the corporation advised against taking legal action. The BBC Trust will not seek to recoup a portion of the £450,000 payout to oust former director general George Entwistle, after lawyers for the corporation, Baker and Mackenzie, advised against taking legal action.
Entwistle received the payout – double what he was legally entitled to under the terms of his contract – in a hurriedly thrashed out "consensual termination" with the BBC Trust in November.Entwistle received the payout – double what he was legally entitled to under the terms of his contract – in a hurriedly thrashed out "consensual termination" with the BBC Trust in November.
On Wednesday, the BBC Trust said that it has contacted Entwistle to inform him that following the publication of Nick Pollard's review into the BBC's handling of the Jimmy Savile scandal, there were "no grounds" to try and recoup some of the payout.On Wednesday, the BBC Trust said that it has contacted Entwistle to inform him that following the publication of Nick Pollard's review into the BBC's handling of the Jimmy Savile scandal, there were "no grounds" to try and recoup some of the payout.
"We have written to George Entwistle's lawyers today to confirm that the BBC Trust concluded at its last meeting, on 17 January, on the basis of clear legal advice that Nick Pollard's review had revealed no grounds for seeking to recover the payment made to George Entwistle on his departure from the BBC," said a spokeswoman for the BBC Trust."We have written to George Entwistle's lawyers today to confirm that the BBC Trust concluded at its last meeting, on 17 January, on the basis of clear legal advice that Nick Pollard's review had revealed no grounds for seeking to recover the payment made to George Entwistle on his departure from the BBC," said a spokeswoman for the BBC Trust.
The terms of Entwistle's "consensual termination" have come in for heavy criticism, not least because he was only in place as director general for 54 days.The terms of Entwistle's "consensual termination" have come in for heavy criticism, not least because he was only in place as director general for 54 days.
In December, Margaret Hodge, chair of the Commons public accounts committee, accused the corporation of "rewarding failure" for allowing large payouts to top BBC executives including Entwistle.In December, Margaret Hodge, chair of the Commons public accounts committee, accused the corporation of "rewarding failure" for allowing large payouts to top BBC executives including Entwistle.
Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust, described Hodge's criticism of the BBC Trust in the report as "shabby".Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust, described Hodge's criticism of the BBC Trust in the report as "shabby".
In November, Patten defended the deal, telling MPs on the Commons culture, media and sport select committee that during exit negotiations, Entwistle had demanded an even bigger payout.In November, Patten defended the deal, telling MPs on the Commons culture, media and sport select committee that during exit negotiations, Entwistle had demanded an even bigger payout.
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