BBC spends £24,000 on hospitality and appearance fees for just TEN MPs

  • Labour MPs, including former Cabinet ministers, received the most cash
  • Spending includes VIP tickets, all-expenses paid trips and appearance fees
PUBLISHED: 10:34, 3 August 2013 | UPDATED: 11:03, 3 August 2013


The BBC has splashed out nearly £24,000 in hospitality and appearance fees for just ten MPs, including senior former Cabinet ministers.
Gifts to MPs from the taxpayer-funded corporation include VIP hospitality tickets and all-expenses paid trips abroad to film documentaries.
Labour MPs received the biggest payments, with former Home Secretary Alan Johnson being paid £12,000 for just 40 hours work at the BBC - the equivalent to £300 an hour - where he has made regular TV and radio appearances.
On screen: Former Cabinet minister Tessa Jowell on the BBC's Question Time with actor and comedian Russell Brand
On screen: Former Cabinet minister Tessa Jowell on the BBC's Question Time with actor and comedian Russell Brand
And Diane Abbott was paid £3,278 - including £500 for appearing on the quiz show Pointless, £600 for University Challenge, £500 for travel and an appearance on Sunday Morning Live in Northern Ireland and two payments of £839 for This Week. 
BBC Wales provided tickets in its hospitality box worth £781 each for the Wales vs Ireland Six Nations rugby match at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff for Labour MPs Nia Griffith and Owen Smith.

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While Peter Hain, a Labour MP who was born in Africa, was sent on an all-expenses paid trip to South Africa to film a documentary about its future, for which he received £2,900 to cover expenses.
Tory MP Philip Davies was also sent on a paid trip to Florida worth £1,290 to make a programme about the death penalty.
The payments were all declared on the MP's latest register of financial interests, which details income received by MPs outside their salary in approximately the last 18 months.
Payments: Diane Abbott (left) declared two appearance fees of £839 for being a guest on This Week
Payments: Diane Abbott (left) declared two appearance fees of £839 for being a guest on This Week
Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson received £12,000 for just 40 hours work at the BBC
Conservative MP Glyn Davies has received £1,650 in appearance fees
Cashing in: Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson (left) was paid £12,000 for 40 hours work at the BBC, while Tory MP Glyn Davies (right) has received £1,650 in appearance fees
Peter Hain was taken to South Africa on expenses to film a documentary
David Blunkett received an appearance fee for a radio show
Payments: Labour's Peter Hain MP was taken on a £2,900 trip to South Africa to film a documentary, while former Home Secretary David Blunkett was paid £250 for appearing on Sunday Morning Live on BBC One
Other recipients of the BBC's generosity include Conservative MP Glyn Davies, who was paid £900 for six newspaper reviews and £600 for interviews by BBC News 24, as well as £150, plus unspecified travel expenses, for appearing on BBC Wales show Pawb a'i Farn.
Former Cabinet minister Tessa Jowell declared receiving £250 for an interview and £500 for an unspecified television appearance at the BBC, while former Home Secretary David Blunkett was paid £250 for an appearance on Sunday Morning Live.
Tory John Whittingdale was paid £150 for an appearance on Any Questions.
Matthew Sinclair, of the Taxpayers' Alliance, told The Sun that the spending by the BBC was 'hard to justify when budgets are so tight'.
A BBC spokesman said: 'In general, we do not pay a fee to politicians to appear on BBC programmes to talk about party political matters. If they are making a filmed report or appearing as a presenter they may be offered a modest fee.'
Defending the tickets given to MPs to attend the rugby match at the Millennium Stadium, he added: 'The box at the Millennium Stadium is provided to us as a result of our broadcasting deal with the Welsh Rugby Union and is not subject to a separate payment. We invite a wide range of guests from political parties as well as stakeholders from a range of other organisations.'

HOW THE BBC IS LINING THE POCKETS OF MPS

Diane Abbott (Lab) - £3,278 for television appearances and travel
David Blunkett (Lab) - £250 for a television appearance
Glyn Davies (Con) - £1,650 for newspaper reviews and interviews 
Philip Davies (Con) - £1,290 in expenses for a trip to Florida to film a documentary
Peter Hain (Lab) - £2,900 in expenses for a trip to South Africa to film a documentary
Nia Griffith (Lab) - hospitality tickets to Wales vs Ireland Six Nations match worth £781
Alan Johnson (Lab) - £12,000 for 40 hours of work for the BBC
Tessa Jowell (Lab) - £750 for an interview and a television appearance
Owen Smith (Lab) - hospitality tickets to Wales vs Ireland Six Nations match worth £781
John Whittingdale (Con) - £150 for a radio appearance