BBC Spends £1,000 of Public Funds on Single Return Taxi Journey

The BBC has faced criticism after it was revealed that the broadcaster spent significant amounts of public money on travel expenses. According to a Freedom of Information request, the BBC spent more than £8,500 on a business-class return flight between Heathrow and Delhi. Additionally, its most expensive taxi fare was £484 for a journey from its Salford studios to Oxford in 2023. The return trip cost a further £481.

The BBC's travel expenses also included £6,400 return flights to New York and almost £14,000 for four staff members to stay two weeks in Senegal. The staff stayed at the Radisson Blu in Dakar, with a cost of £245 per night each. In London, employees enjoyed a £2,712 seven-night stay at the Hard Rock Hotel near Marble Arch.

Joanna Marchong from the TaxPayers' Alliance commented:

"Splashing out £8,000 on flights and £480 on cabs shows how out of touch the BBC has become."

The BBC defended the spending, stating:

"We’re mindful we’re spending public money. We have policies in place to manage this and we always work to keep costs to a minimum."