BBC awards pay rises despite government’s calls for restraint

The BBC is to award pay rises to almost three-quarters of its staff, despite the chancellor’s calls for restraint in public sector pay.

The broadcaster announced yesterday staff earning less than £37,726 would each benefit from a £475 pay rise. This accounts for 70% of its employees, according to the Times, and is equivalent to a 1% increase in total pay. It will add £6m to the salary bill, but has been declared unacceptable by broadcasting unions, who asked for a 7.3% rise.

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Ministers have already admitted they are unable to stop the BBC awarding pay rise.

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “All I can do is advocate changes at the BBC while respecting editorial independence, upon which the success of the BBC rests. I can’t do anything that requires the BBC to pay certain people certain amounts.”