BBC Accused of Schmoozing Luvvies to Protect TV Licence Fee

The BBC spent £27,000 wining and dining celebrities and politicians at this year's Proms.

Critics have accused the Corporation of squandering the cash on lavish hospitality, in an effort to protect the future of the TV licence fee.

Cabinet members John Whittingdale, Theresa May and Jeremy Hunt were among the guests invited to the annual bash. BBC personalities Brian Cox, Claire Balding and Chris Evans - all of whom signed Danny Cohen's famous lobbying letter - were also in attendance.

In total around £15,000 was spent purchasing guest tickets, £9,000 was spent on food and drink and £3,000 was spent producing a special printed programme.

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, an outspoken critic of BBC profligacy, said: "We’ve found out how much money the EU spends on promoting itself, and the BBC is just as bad.

"It is spending an outrageous amount of taxpayers’ money trying to lobby for its position at the time of charter renewal. I want Lord Hall to tell us how much money the BBC is spending promoting itself."

Jonathan Isaby of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: "Licence fee payers will be furious that the BBC is using their cash to host celebrities in luxury boxes.

"Tickets for the proms are well out of reach for many hard-pressed families, so pleas about cuts to the Corporation's budget may be met with little sympathy. The licence fee is a significant financial burden and taxpayers want it spent on quality programming, not on schmoozing luvvies."

At the time of writing 80% of respondents to a Telegraph survey were in disagreement with the BBC's decision to provide this hospitality.