The is once again under fire for its spending decisions after sending newsreader to the United States to cover ’s latest political activities.
Viewers have slammed the move as an unnecessary expense and a squandering of tax payer’s money, given the corporation’s ongoing claims of financial constraints.
One Twitter user expressed his frustration, writing on X: “Yet again, the supposedly financially challenged @BBCNews feels the need to send Clive Myrie thousands of miles away to ‘read’ the evening news.
“Utter madness from a corporation which doesn’t seem to understand the UK is not part of the USA. #bbcnews.” Another replied: “My thoughts exactly when I saw the news tonight! So much money wasted! Licence payers money!” A third agreed: “Emma Vardy is there doing a good job no need to send Clive Myrie. Air fares hotel accommodation the license payer is footing the bills.”
This isn’t the first time the broadcaster has been accused of extravagance when it comes to covering foreign events.
Clive is currently in the US reporting the news (Image: Getty)
In 2022, the corporation faced criticism for its extensive coverage of the US midterm elections, reportedly sending more than 70 staff members to America.
Similarly, during the Tokyo Olympics, the ’s on-the-ground presence sparked outrage, especially when compared to other broadcasters who managed with fewer resources while maintaining quality coverage.
In a previous report by the National Audit Office, it was revealed that the spent millions annually on travel and accommodation for its staff, with some questioning whether such expenditures were always justifiable.
This includes first-class flights for executives and correspondents, which have been flagged as particularly contentious given the push for austerity within the organisation.
Despite the backlash, Clive, who also hosts Mastermind, has previusly defended his employer citing his passion for covering American politics.
Don’t miss… [UPDATE]
Clive recently apologised for not declaring at least £145,000 of earnings outside the BBC (Image: Getty)
He described the US as “the grandest of unfinished democratic experiments.” In an interview with the , he stated: “I read the New York Times and the Washington Post far more than I read British papers.”
He added: “It’s constantly striving to be this perfect union and has never got there. You’d think a civil war might be enough to cleanse the air, but they just ended up having a different form of segregation with white and black areas and Jim Crow laws…
“When it comes to race, the country doesn’t talk about it, it’s ashamed and that means latent racism can linger and just develop like a cancer and grow.”
The license-fee funded station continues to justify its global coverage as part of its commitment to providing comprehensive and impartial reporting.
Last month Clive was forced to issue an apology after he of external events away from his job.
The journalist earned the eye-watering sum for speaking and hosting engagements, but failed to log them on the corporation’s external events register.
After a newspaper alerted the to his error, Myrie added 28 retrospective entries to the register. It is understood he charged up to £10,000 per event, and received more than that on five separate occasions.
He has now issued an apology to fans online for his mistake and insist he won’t be taking on further external events “for the foreseeable future.”