Caroline Thomson, the BBC's chief operating officer and main architect of the policy, said that the BBC was "at the vanguard of public disclosure". She was bullish about publication, insisting that every claim was justifiable and expressing confidence that being so open would lead to a "stronger, deeper relationship with our audience".
The BBC, she said, had been on "a journey of learning about how we should be properly accountable for the way we spend public money".
But as page after page detailed claims for everything from 70p parking fees to climbing equipment for a trip up Mount Kilimanjaro, and the BBC's senior managers were revealed to be earning an average of almost £200,000 per year, it became clear that Ms Thomson's grand plan had backfired.
Indeed, Miss Thomson herself emerged as one of the worst offenders. On top of her £333,000 annual salary, she claimed £4,011 on taxis in the space of three months. In May alone, her cab bill amounted to £1.534.37, including one journey which cost £114.42.
More details (Telegraph)
