BBC rapped for payments to politician Diane Abbott for television appearances

Published on 31/08/2012 02:34

The BBC has been ordered to stop paying Labour MP Diane Abbott so much for appearing on political show This Week after she took home more than £6,000 in appearance fees.

A report by the BBC Trust’s Editorial Standards Committee upheld a complaint by a member of the public and found her appearances on the show, hosted by Andrew Neil, had been “too frequent” since her promotion to the Labour front bench.

Ms Abbott, who appeared regularly on the show alongside sparring partner former Conservative MP Michael Portillo, was named shadow minister for public health in October 2010.

She continued to appear on the programme, billed as a former presenter, appearing eight times up to July this year and declaring earnings from the show of £6,712 in that period.