BBC suspends Michael Crick
The BBC has suspended investigative freelance journalist, Michael Crick, the man who alleges Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith improperly paid his wife Betsy a salary for doing little or no work at all.
It is alleged Mrs Duncan Smith was paid a salary of £15,000 whilst working as a diary secretary for her husband during the first 15 months of his leadership.
In a statement released last night, the BBC said: “The BBC and Michael Crick have agreed that in the light of the current investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner – and Michael’s role in making the complaint – his contract with the BBC should be suspended.
“This arrangement will last while Michael Crick remains closely involved in the story about Iain Duncan Smith’s use of his parliamentary allowance.”
Mr Crick had been furious that the BBC pulled his story for Newsnight after Mr Duncan Smith threatened legal action. He then made the allegations to The Sunday Telegraph.
With the political neutrality of the BBC likely to be thrown into question so soon after the Dr David Kelly scandal, the Corp declined to broadcast to story.
Mr Crick reflecting on the decision, reported to be editorial rather than disciplinary, said: “I hope that once this has all died down I can go back there, and I think that’s how they feel about it too.”
All eyes are now on Prime Minister’s Questions this afternoon where Mr Duncan Smith will have to fend off calls for his resignation.
Mr Duncan Smith is to face a formal investigation led by Sir Philip Mawer into the use of his parliamentary office funds to pay his wife.
In a statement, Sir Philip said: “The nature of the information given to me – some of which is from anonymous sources – makes it necessary.
“The fact that I am making further inquiries and expect to report to the committee does not imply that I regard the allegations against Mr Duncan Smith as substantiated, simply that I need additional information in order to be able to evaluate them properly.”
Mr Duncan Smith insists he will be “exonerated.”
