Paxman in attack on BBC cuts

Jeremy Paxman today brands BBC cutbacks on news and current affairs budget as unjustifiable.

The Newsnight presenter says he does not understand why the 15 per cent cuts, which are part of a wider reorganisation, could be sanctioned when the corporation is considering spending millions of pounds moving hundreds of staff from London.

Paxman tells The Guardian: "I don't understand why it's necessary, particularly at a time when you can spend hundreds of millions building new buildings, moving staff to Manchester and all the rest of it.

"I mean, if I was editor of the programme and I was told to make 15 per cent cuts, I'd say fine, we'll go to four nights a week instead of five. Frankly, reducing the number of staplers in the office isn't going to do it."

He adds: "I think it would be very helpful to be told precisely why these cuts are necessary and what sort of things the boss class would like to see removed from the output."