Lord Foulkes misses the point.

Mrs Rigby was surprised to see Lord Foulkes ask television presenter Carrie Grace how much she earns during an interview about MPs' expenses. He seemed to think it was reasonable to compare her wages to that of MPs.

Now, Mrs Rigby grumpily forks out for a television license and often moans about how much presenters can earn, but she understands market forces. She understands that the BBC is paid for by taxpayers - because everybody in this country pays taxes, even if it's only VAT - so everybody who pays for a television license is a taxpayer, and that the BBC received government subsidies. But that's not the point.

The point is that BBC presenter's wages aren't entirely paid directly out of the public purse, unlike the money that pays for government - which includes MPs' wages and allowances.

According to TheyWorkforYou Lord Foulkes was MP for Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley from 1975, he entered the House of Lords in 2005. He is also an MSP. Lord Foulkes made the news earlier in 2009 and, according to theTimes here

Lord Foulkes of Cumnock is paid £36,000 a year as a parliamentary consultant to Eversheds LLP for services that include introducing clients to select committee chairmen in the Lords and Commons.

In 2008 Lord Foulkes claimed £54,527 in House of Lords allowances. He takes a salary as a Lothians MSP. Mrs R reckons his tax free income, paid directly by the taxpayer, adds up to a bit more than Carrie Grace's taxable salary.