BBC employees have spent hundreds of kilos on first-class London to Manchester rail journey – as tens of millions lose out on free TV licences.

Bosses spent greater than £12,865 on the most effective seats to the place exhibits together with Breakfast and Match of the Day are filmed.

BBC staff have spent thousands on first class rail fares

BBC employees have spent hundreds on first-class rail faresCredit score: Alamy

Prices for the plush journey environment have been disclosed to The Solar on Sunday and canopy the monetary 12 months 2019-20.

The BBC have now stamped out any employee claiming the first-class journey choice since new guidelines have been drawn up in October final 12 months.

The company have their MediaCity website in close by Salford which can be used for Youngsters’s BBC, Radio 5 Reside and regional programming.

The revelation comes because the over-75s have began paying the £157.50 licence free with solely these claiming Pension Credit score getting an exemption.

James Roberts, political director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, mentioned: “Licence payment payers shouldn’t be funding fancy first-class journey on the Beeb.

“Places of work across the nation aren’t any excuse for high tier prepare tickets that permit BBC bureaucrats to journey in luxurious, and banning these practices was lengthy overdue.

“Worth for cash is at all times vital, like distant working and digital conferences as the most affordable different to journey.”

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen: “It seems BBC employees have little in widespread with these the licence payment and so they definitely don’t wish to journey with them.”

A BBC spokesperson mentioned: “As a nationwide broadcaster with a big presence across the UK, journey between our websites is usually unavoidable – however we’ve strict guidelines in place and at all times search the most effective worth for cash the place attainable.

“We modified these guidelines in October 2019 and first-class rail journey is now not permitted.”