Tightening belts - a few extra holes?

From a press release:

Commenting on the BBC’s annual report which showed that BBC trustees and executives’ pay had increased by £1 million since last year, Liberal Democrat Shadow Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, Don Foster said:

“While Auntie remains a much loved institution, it’s quite clear that like many of us, she needs to lose a bit of weight.

“As pay restraint is being forced on the public sector across the board, people will have little sympathy with BBC executives on high wages giving themselves massive pay increases.

“The best way for the BBC to increase public confidence that it doesn’t waste money is to let the National Audit Office scrutinise its accounts.

“However, we should all welcome the fact the BBC keeps on producing top quality content and remains the leading light in world broadcasting.”

Not sure if that last para, even if sincere, will serve to deflect any efforts by those with vested interests trying to encourage voters to do so 'correctly'.

I just find myself vexed to be funding the whole sorry process.

Indy - BBC chiefs cash in after year of turmoil

Indy - No laughing matter

Gosh, if there were self-serving systems, checks and balances like this across all public service jobs, just imagine the mess the UK would be in.

The lunatics have hired the incompetents to not only mis-run the asylum, but also set their own levels of remuneration to do so.

I am trying to envisage how exactly this country will function when there are 59,999,999 on the public payroll sucking dry the last poor sod actually doing something of value... and which they are held fully accountable for.

On the BBC, I could care less what the others are doing; their companies fortunes, and the salaries they make in 'helping', rise or fall with the market. They do not force me on pain of prison to pay for their antics, on and off air, no matter how much I do not see any value to them.

And the feedback/complaint systems, from Newswatch to 'The Trust', are a bad joke.

Sorry, I feel quite strongly about this.

If these executives feel they can do better in other areas then, just like the 'stars' they are too lazy or incompetent to seek replacements for, they are welcome to make the leap.

There is a vast talent pool out there, and no one irreplaceable.

Plus working with the only national broadcasting entity that gives one access to an audience of 60M is an amazing opportunity that should be treasured, not taken advantage of.

Especially when, by any measure, it's not like anyone who comes in subsequently could do much worse.

Brand Republic - Is the BBC right to reward its top executives with big pay rises? - And it just adds insult to injury to find I am now fighting for audience share against a pretty-much open cheque-funded outfit... that I am also obliged to contribute to!

BBC Politics - Listen to Tessa Jowell not answer the question, or be asked to.

Newsnight -

Fancy getting Tessa Jowell on for a repeat performance of top leadership in action*?

Just to get 'a sense of proportion':)

'MPs discuss BBC bosses' bonuses'

I now have to add 'self-denying ordinance' as the new, cute obfuscating 'mots du jour' from Ministers who, it seems, do not not need to have anyone justifying anything to them, begging the question as to what they do, or not, and on whose behalf... to justify their equally handsome wadges of wonga.

Telegraph - 40p a day for the BBC must be good value - And if one disagrees, what then? I wonder how much goes to him?

It seems to have stuck a chord:

Well, is this going as well as intended, Mr. T?

Must be taking lessons in PR tactics from Mr. Brown.

Worthy bedfellows indeed.

Thing is, the current media/political eli... establishment have figured out there is almost nothing anyone can do change the situation, so the unaccountable, irresponsible, isolated-from-reality lunatics in charge of the gravy part of the train are just running the rest of us in the cattle trucks into the buffers.

Sad what this country has become at your hands.

Times - NEW - Briefing: Cost of the BBC -
Times - NEW - BBC executives’ pay rises 17% to nearly £5m despite scandals

BBC - NEW - Thompson rejects calls to cut BBC - In the interests of balance

Telegraph - NEW - Jenny Abramsky, are you retiring comfortably?