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BBC Trust finds broadcaster breached rules over fees for MP Diane Abbott BBC Trust finds broadcaster breached rules over fees for MP Diane Abbott
(about 3 hours later)
The BBC has been found in breach of its editorial guidelines over the payment of appearance fees totalling £6,700 to Labour shadow minister Diane Abbott. The BBC has been found to have breached its editorial guidelines over the payment of appearance fees totalling £6,700 to Labour shadow minister Diane Abbott.
In a ruling published on Thursday, the BBC Trust's editorial standards committee said that the corporation had breached its own editorial guidelines with the £839-per-episode fee to Abbott, for eight appearances on the BBC1 politics show, This Week, since the Labour MP became shadow minister for public health in October 2010.In a ruling published on Thursday, the BBC Trust's editorial standards committee said that the corporation had breached its own editorial guidelines with the £839-per-episode fee to Abbott, for eight appearances on the BBC1 politics show, This Week, since the Labour MP became shadow minister for public health in October 2010.
Abbott often appears on This Week alongside Andrew Neil and the former Tory MP Michael Portillo to discuss the political issues of the day.Abbott often appears on This Week alongside Andrew Neil and the former Tory MP Michael Portillo to discuss the political issues of the day.
In the ruling, the trust's editorial standards committee said that a "realistic disturbance fee" should have been paid to Abbott for her eight appearances since October 2008.In the ruling, the trust's editorial standards committee said that a "realistic disturbance fee" should have been paid to Abbott for her eight appearances since October 2008.
"However, the payment of such substantial appearance fees to Ms Abbott since she took up her front bench position in 2010 was a breach of the guidelines," the ESC added. "However, the payment of such substantial appearance fees to Ms Abbott since she took up her frontbench position in 2010 was a breach of the guidelines," the ESC added.
The BBC Trust ruling could prompt a change in how the corporation uses serving frontbench politicians as guests on its current affairs shows. A BBC Trust spokeswoman said the ruling was unlikely to prompt a change in how the corporation uses serving frontbench politicians as guests on its current affairs shows, because no other similar examples have been raised.
It followed a complaint to the outgoing BBC director general, Mark Thompson, that it was inappropriate for Abbott to receive between £839 and £869 an episode to express her party's policy on the show.It followed a complaint to the outgoing BBC director general, Mark Thompson, that it was inappropriate for Abbott to receive between £839 and £869 an episode to express her party's policy on the show.
BBC guidelines state that MPs should not be paid for appearances when they are "speaking as a member of their party or expressing political views".BBC guidelines state that MPs should not be paid for appearances when they are "speaking as a member of their party or expressing political views".
The producers of This Week argued that the programme was an exception because it was "not a traditional political programme".The producers of This Week argued that the programme was an exception because it was "not a traditional political programme".
But this was rejected by the ESC. In its ruling, the trust committee said BBC executives had acknowledged it had been wrong for Abbott to have received such substantial payments during the course of its investigation.But this was rejected by the ESC. In its ruling, the trust committee said BBC executives had acknowledged it had been wrong for Abbott to have received such substantial payments during the course of its investigation.
BBC executives also accepted that Abbott had appeared on This Week too frequently since becoming a shadow minister. They said her appearances should have been limited to once or twice a year, not eight times in 17 months.BBC executives also accepted that Abbott had appeared on This Week too frequently since becoming a shadow minister. They said her appearances should have been limited to once or twice a year, not eight times in 17 months.
Abbott appeared almost weekly on This Week, which airs on Thursday nights on BBC1 after Question Time, as a backbench MP before she was appointed shadow minister for public health in October 2010.Abbott appeared almost weekly on This Week, which airs on Thursday nights on BBC1 after Question Time, as a backbench MP before she was appointed shadow minister for public health in October 2010.
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