Broadcaster Carrie Gracie has accused the BBC of ‘belittling’ the work of its female journalists for decades.
The former China editor, who quit her role earlier this month in protest at men getting paid more than women for doing the same job, said her decision to walk away was never about money.
She told MPs at the Commons’ culture, media and sport select committee she wants proper systems put in place by her employer to ensure the work of male and female employees is valued equally.
Visibly emotional, Gracie said she noted the BBC had thanked senior male presenters Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson and Jeremy Vine for agreeing to take pay cuts, after it was revealed two-thirds of BBC stars earning more than £150,000 were male.
“They have never said they are very grateful to me for not taking a pay rise at the time,” she said.
“And they said at that point these are great broadcasters, great journalists who have a great connection with the public.
“I have 500 and more emails from the public here, in support of me, in support of my work as China editor and in support of my stand on equal pay.
“And I have more than 300 emails from members of staff who support that too.”
During her time in the job, Gracie battled breast cancer twice and supported her daughter through a serious illness.
“Someday it would be nice if the BBC could bring itself to say that the women, too, are good broadcasters and journalists,” she said.
“But instead it is effectively forced to belittle our contribution. Not just this year, not just last year, but for decades.”
Gracie revealed her employers had offered to pay her nearly £100,000 in backdated salary and attempted to justify her lower pay in previous years by claiming she had been ‘in development’.
“It adds insult to injury,” she said.
“It is unacceptable to talk to your senior women like that...they are trying to throw money at me to solve my problem.”
The former News Channel presenter - who speaks Mandarin fluently - said the BBC was unable to admit it had an equal pay problem because it “does not want to confront what may be fiscal liabilities, which we all agree are there”.
“I do not want any more money, that is not what it’s about,” she added.
“This will not resolve my problem. My problem will be resolved by an acknowledgment that my work was of equal value to the men I served alongside as an international editor.
“An apology would be nice.”
Gracie said she had no desire to “get into a fight” with male colleagues who were paid more than her and that she had asked to receive an equal salary as soon as she agreed to take on the China job.
“One of the things that’s made me sad is the tendency for this to turn into a comparison between me and the North America editor, and me and the Middle East editor,” she told MPs.
“I admire the work of Jon Sopel and Jeremy Bowen. I have been proud to stand alongside them as international editors. I do not want to get into that fight.
“What I want to talk about more is the sense in which my case is just an example of the bigger problem.”
She added that her own employee grievance procedure after she raised the issue was ‘a disgrace’, and said she decided to go public to attempt to change the culture within the organisation.
Asked if she believed the BBC was in breach of the Equality Act, Gracie told the committee: “Emphatically yes. And I was astonished when I heard the Director General say that he had resolved many cases, because I know some of those people personally and they would not use that word.”
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