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The chairman of the BBC Trust claimed more than £19,000 expenses in a six-month period, including a £251 fare to get home after the final of Strictly Come Dancing.
Sir Michael Lyons claimed the extraordinary amount because he lives near Birmingham despite working in London.
He ran up a further £14,567 in costs for car journeys for the period up to the end of March this year. That included the £12,500 cost of having a driver at his disposal when in London for the six months, plus £2,067 cover when the driver was unavailable.
The largest proportion of Sir Michael's £19,116 claims was for accommodation, which accounted for £9,616. His spend on local cabs totalled £1,206, while long-distance cars - including his Strictly Come Dancing bill - amounted to £1,207.
The next biggest claim, according to new figures, was by trustee Alison Hastings with £12,762. By contrast Anthony Fry claimed £249 for the five months he was on the board.
The 13 BBC Trustees claimed a total of £78,394 over the six-month period.
Reader views (8)
Get shot of the 'spendthrift knight' now !!! he is an embarrassment there are already enough freeloaders in the BBC.
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 24/07/2009 15:25
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You have to question the wisdom of employing someone who lives a 100 miles away from the office. Or if he is the best person for the role, why he doesn't use public transport like other mere mortals. I would have thought the cost of a railcard, even for travelling at the front of the train, would be considerably less than the total of 6 months of accommodation and driver. Incidentally, travel time from Birmingham is around 1.5 hours by rail.
- Matthew, london, 24/07/2009 14:09
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The BBC executives are as contemptible as our politicians. I refused to renew my t.v. licence when they failed to sack the odious Ross.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 24/07/2009 13:53
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No wonder then that the Governors have been so supportive of the too-generous pay deals handed out to "stars" like Jonathan Ross and "Director" Mark Thompson -- the contrast makes their own expense claims seem positively modest.
- Bloke, London, 24/07/2009 12:28
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The public need to do a a mass march/protest about the bbc tax, it is not a licencee fee it as a tax.
These jokers would not last 5 minutes in the real world, you know the one that actually creates money, not squanders it.
- P Staker, London, 24/07/2009 12:19
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The BBC are clearly not using our money "With due car and attention". The BBC has done alot of excellent work, but they beleive that they live in some Hollywood bubble and should be paid accordingly. They do not live in Hollywood, they do not have the same pressures as the private sector, they have a tax generated, secure income, they are not answerable to shareholders (or any one else effectivly) and the level of pay and expenses are not justified. The argument about amrket levels is bogus. The BBC is the market and sets what the market rate is.
- Very Very Angry At Paying Tax For Mp'S Expeses, Home Counties, 24/07/2009 11:47
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How dare anyone question the actions of this fine character - these are just perks of being superior. The peasants, bless their PAYE taxes, expect their moral, intellectual and spiritual leaders to help themselves from the till.
- Mannie Muckle, Clapham, 24/07/2009 11:32
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Would he have got away with it on a commercial channel like Sky/ITV/CNN? er - I dont think so! Do any of you?
- Steve, Brentford, 24/07/2009 10:35
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