THE BBC and Newswatch presenter Samira Ahmed have agreed on an undisclosed financial settlement in the equal pay case that was heard by a tribunal.
Ahmed had claimed the broadcaster owed her about £700,000, citing the disparity between her pay packet of £440 per episode for Newswatch and Jeremy Vine’s £3,000 for each Points of View episode.
The employment tribunal concluded in January that the BBC had failed to negate allegations of gender discrimination in fixing pay packages.
The BBC had reportedly argued that Vine was more famous and had a “glint in his eyes”.
The tribunal judges, however, noted that there were only “minor differences” in what the two presenters did in their respective shows, and ruled in Ahmed’s favour.
They also opined that Vine presented his show as per the script. “He read it in the tone in which it was written. If it told him to roll his eyes, he did. It did not require any particular skill or experience to do that,” they wrote.
After brief deliberation, the BBC decided not to appeal against the verdict.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Samira Ahmed and the BBC are pleased to have reached a settlement following the recent tribunal.
“Samira is a highly valued BBC presenter and now these matters have been concluded we all want to focus on the future.
We look forward to continuing to work together to make great programmes for audiences.
“Neither the BBC, Samira or the NUJ [National Union of Journalists] will be commenting further on this case.”
Analysts said the case “provides hope to the many other women still pursuing the BBC over historical equal pay cases”.
Ahmed said she was “glad it's been resolved”. After the tribunal verdict, she had said: “I love working for the BBC. No woman wants to have to take action against their own employer.”
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, in Scunthorpe, northern England, Britain, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.