Because We're Worth It - the Taxpayers' Rich List

Episode image for Because We're Worth It - the Taxpayers' Rich List

Duration: 29 minutes

How much do top people in the public sector really get paid - council chiefs, headteachers, policemen, even the BBC's own bosses? Panorama reveals the results of the most thorough and extensive investigation ever conducted into their pay, using the Freedom of Information Act to contact over 2,400 organisations. Thousands of people receive bigger salaries from the taxpayer than the Prime Minister; are they actually worth it?

  • Top public pay revealed

    Top public pay revealed

    Details of public sector pay, including the 9,187 employees who earn more than the prime minister, are revealed in a Panorama investigation.

    Examine details of the public sector pay investigation

  • Public sector pay: the methodology

    Public sector pay: the methodology

    A detailed explanation of the methodology used in compiling an extensive review of public sector salaries in the UK.

    Read about how the figures were calculated

  • The case for and against high public sector pay

    The case for and against high public sector pay

    Panorama's Vivian White presents views from both sides of the heated debate over how much senior public sector workers should be paid. In researching Panorama: Because We're Worth It - the Taxpayers' Rich List, he takes the pulse of the people in Trafalgar Square and hears a rigorous defence of a highly paid chief constable in Middlesbrough.

    Read reporter Vivian White's feature

  • Ranking the pay packets of the public sector's top dogs

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    With more than 9,000 public sector workers now earning more than Prime Minister David Cameron, Panorama reporter Vivian White took to the streets of London to find out how the general public rates the people at the top of the public sector pay scale.

  • Middlesbrough police chief 'is worth' £208,000 pay

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    Panorama reporter Vivian White meets a community in Middlesbrough who feel that their neighbourhood is visibly safer thanks to their chief constable. They think he is worth his annual salary of £208,690.

  • The Taxpayers' Rich List - Join in the debate

    The Taxpayers' Rich List - Join in the debate

    Have your say or read other comments

  • Panorama 2000 to 2008

    Panorama 2000 to 2008

    If you'd like to know more about Panorama programmes dating back to 2000, including features, transcripts, video content and more, please click on the link below.

    Browse the Panorama archive

Credits

Presenter
Jeremy Vine
Reporter
Vivian White
Producer
Patrick Barrie

Broadcasts

See all broadcasts of Because We're Worth It - the Taxpayers' Rich List (6)

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