Unrecognised

In September 2011, we were led to believe that Lord Patten had put his foot down and banned a move to re-introduce BBC bonuses for senior management. In today's Sun, we are told that, in the same year, a "recognition scheme" was introduced, and in two years, nearly £2.5 million has been handed out.

In the first year, 15 managers shared a £300k pay-out; in the second year, 8 managers shared £100k. In all, over 1,500 staff got something above their normal salary - which will irritate those who didn't, and thought bonuses were verboten.

In The Sun, it looks like the BBC spokeswoman did everything she could to avoid the word bonus - "modest cash awards", "small discretionary payments", "legacy contracts" - let's hope Lord Patten hasn't read it.