Jeremy Corbyn accused of 'hypocrisy' over BBC class transparency call

Emilio Casalicchio

Jeremy Corbyn has been accused of “hypocrisy” after he said the BBC should publish the social class background of some of its staff.



The Labour leader said the broadcaster should face “complete transparency” and produce data about the backgrounds of its workforce.

But he was attacked by critics, who pointed out that he was educated at private school - as were a number of his top team and frontbench appointments.

Tory MP Michael Fabricant blasted: “It’s a bit rich of Jeremy Corbyn to be calling for the disclosure of social class when he himself is surrounded by public schoolboys who inhabit the inner sanctum.

“It is remarkable how all the confidants of Jeremy Corbyn are white, middle class Wykehamists. Others might be tempted to say that this is an example of his hypocrisy.”

Tory deputy chair James Cleverly meanwhile suggested the announcement was calculated after it emerged Lizzie Watson - the daughter of Labour MP Margaret Hodge - worked for the BBC.

An investigation into Ms Hodge was dropped after she called Mr Corbyn an “anti-semitic racist” to his face in the Commons.

Mr Cleverly said: “Jeremy Corbyn’s proposed audit of the backgrounds of people in the media doesn’t sound sinister, until you remember it comes straight after his acolytes turned on Lizzie Watson for being Margaret Hodge’s daughter.”

Mr Corbyn was raised in a seven-bedroom house in Shropshire and spent a brief period at a fee-paying preparatory school before moving on to a grammar.

Shadow Cabinet members John McDonnell, Emily Thornberry and Barry Gardiner also went to private schools, as did a number of Mr Corbyn’s top staff.

The BBC already produces data on the background of its employees - but Labour said it should produce more information about staff on individual programmes.