At least 37 BBC executives earn more than the Prime Minister, it was revealed yesterday, as the corporation disclosed the scale of its senior salaries for the first time.

The broadcaster said that its 107 “most senior decision makers” earn £22 million a year and said that the disclosures made it the nation’s most transparent public body. This claim was undermined when it emerged that hundreds of its highest earners were hidden from the published figures.

Nearly 300 senior managers earning more than £100,000, were kept off the list, The Times has learnt. Some earn more than Gordon Brown. Many are paid more than double the £81,100 earned by the lowest-paid manager whose salary was made public. Gordon Brown’s salary is £197,689 but he draws only £192,414.

The revelations put pressure on the Tories to spell out how they would restrain pay in the corporation. In his speech to the Conservative conference last month George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, said: “The excessive salaries at the top have to go. In the current climate, anyone who wishes to pay a public servant more than the Prime Minister will have to put it before the Chancellor. I am not expecting a long queue.” Mr Osborne’s spokesman admitted last night, however, that BBC executives in line to receive more than the Prime Minister would not be required to line up alongside other public sector chiefs.

The pay of on-screen stars, such as Jonathan Ross, who earns an estimated £6 million a year, was also left out. Those who were on the list ranged from Mark Thompson, the Director-General, who earned £834,000, down to Tom Sleigh, the chief adviser for operations, earning £81,100.

The BBC’s annual report shows that there are at least 281 staff earning more than Mr Sleigh but who were not featured in the disclosures. Excluded were any who work for the commercial subsidiary, BBC Worldwide, and more than 150 core staff on more than £100,000 who were deemed not to have enough responsibility.

A BBC spokesman said: “The senior managers have been selected according to their salary, responsibility, influence and membership of a BBC board. They are those who have the greatest responsibility for spending public money and for overseeing the BBC’s services and operations.”

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