Toxicity

Back in July, Lord Patten opined that the level of management pay was "one of the most toxic reasons for the public's lack of sympathy for the BBC".

This weekend he signed off a severance deal for George Entwistle, of a year's salary for a job George had done for 54 days. Even if George has started his £450,000 salary on appointment in July, that's only four months. A BBC spokesperson, who should probably consider their position, said their standard executive contract "entitled" someone leaving to a lump sum of six month pay (watch that change), and the extra six month's money was to ensure that he played a part in the continuing BBC inquiries.

How loud do alarm bells have to be to penetrate the walls of 180 Great Portland Street ? Who said this would pass without contention, and should they still work for the BBC ? If today we end up with half-a-dozen heads standing aside, the public and press will start with their salaries, presumably still to be paid, and then the salaries of their replacements. On top of the costs of the inquiries, and the potential pay-offs and damages to come, DQF is going to look like a walk in the park.