Jess Phillips criticised for £15,000 BBC appearance

Labour MP Jess Phillips has received a barrage of criticism after it emerged that she was paid £15,000 for presenting an episode of the BBC One comedy show Have I Got News For You.

The Yardley MP hosted the episode on 10 December last year joined by regular team captains Ian Hislop and Paul Merton along with panellists Jon Richardson and Hannah Fry.

She received the payment just one month after an opposition motion urging a ban on MPs holding second jobs outside Parliament – if the work involves paid lobbying or political consultancy– was defeated.

Phillips receives an annual salary of £81,932 as an MP, putting her in the top 5 per cent of UK earners.

“Obviously I think it’s a lot of money. I believe it’s the standard fee. I didn’t negotiate it,” she said following the revelation.

“The shoot is about three hours, but as a presenter you are there all day running through, rehearsing with the autocue. I’m not sure this was because I am a novice or it is standard.”