DG flips at Jack Straw comment

Having endured a barrage of heavy fire over the so-called "Manuelgate" affair, which saw the resignation of Russell Brand the suspension of Jonathan Ross, the nerves of Mark Thompson (pictured), the BBC's director-general, are understandably a little frayed. So when he heard that Justice Secretary Jack Straw had criticised him for his £816,000 a year salary, and was asked for a reaction by the Daily Mail, he flipped.

Speaking at a US election night party thrown by CNN, the paper claims the DG responded angrily to Straw's attack, saying: "Look, I don't need to be in charge of the BBC. I could have stayed at Channel 4. They offered £600,000 as a sweetener to stay, but I chose to come and work for the BBC because I wanted to. I'm certainly not doing it for the money."

Straw had made his remarks about Thompson at another cocktail party  -  this time at the Irish Embassy and hosted by ambassador David Cooney in aid of a journalists' charity. He elicited applause from the assembled guests when he appeared to single out Thompson's remuneration as he complained about "closed markets which allowed BBC bosses to earn salaries in excess of £800,000".

On being told about his remarks, Thompson added through gritted teeth: "As I said, I do not need this sort of attack. I am paid what the job is worth." ·