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Sunday, 4 April 2021

BBC Spends Fortune on Presenter Dan Walker's Taxi Fares

BBC News and Sport presenter Dan Walker has been accused of racking up a fortune in taxi fares.

Katie Hind, writing in the Mail on Sunday, claims that the newspaper has seen evidence confirming that Walker regularly takes £200-a-time taxi journeys between his Sheffield home and BBC Media City at Salford Quays.

In December 2019 The Sun first published claims that Walker, who earns £260,000 a year, was regularly using taxis for the 78 mile return journey. The BBC Breakfast and Football Focus presenter angrily hit back at the claims, saying on Twitter that critics should "stop reading and believing rubbish in newspapers".

According to Hind, newly released BBC documents show that Walker has indeed been using taxis for the journey for the last 6 months, with insiders claiming it has been a longstanding arrangement prior to that.

The taxi is booked to pick him up in Sheffield at 3.45 am and collect him from Media City for the return journey at 9.30 am.

Although the expense is undeniable, a quick glance at the relevant BBC Expenses policy seems to suggest that Walker's use of taxis is just about within the rules.

The policy states: "If you have no means of getting to and from work in the early morning (start or finish time before 06.30) or late at night (start or finish time after 22.45), the BBC can provide transport, within 40 actual miles from your normal place of employment."

Walker's home is just under 40 miles from Media City.

The policy adds that for taxi journeys beyond 40 miles the employee might be asked for a contribution towards the cost.

A BBC spokesperson said: "Our presenters know our policies on travel and accommodation costs and anything outside of BBC policy is paid for by themselves."

Walker, speaking on Twitter earlier this morning, said: "I personally pay for any taxis outside the ones permitted to get to work at 3.45 am and I drive myself one day a week."

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