This Morning: Ann Widdecombe questions Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby’s pay

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were left very red-faced during a ‘feisty’ interview with Ann Widdecombe.

The former Conservative politician, 70, was on the show to defend her comments about feminism, after she claimed ‘women have never had it so good’ and called the Me Too movement ‘whinging’.

Ann ranted about high-profile women campaigning for equal pay with their male co-stars, hinting that Phil got paid more than Holly.

Phil quickly defended himself saying that the pair ‘get paid the same’, which Holly confirmed.

Later Ann snapped at Holly for interrupting her, asking her if she ‘gets paid per interruption’.

The moments left This Morning viewers in stitches, with one telling the pair: ‘That’s you told!’

Ann Widdecombe (right) left Holly Willoughby (middle) and Phillip Schofield (left) red-faced on This Morning on Wednesday when she questioned their pay and scolded them for interrupting

Ann’s argument was that women get paid less than men because they sometimes go part time after they have families or go on maternity leave to have babies.

She said in the case of the media it was because male stars are often more experienced or more famous than their female colleagues.

She said: ‘When it comes to the more esoteric pay gaps we’ve seen such as in the media, such as the male presenter is paid more than the female.’

Quickly realising that she was talking about Holly and himself, Phil said: ‘We’re paid the same!’

The moments left This Morning viewers in stitches on Twitter (pictured), with one telling the pair: 'That's you told!'

The moments left This Morning viewers in stitches on Twitter (pictured), with one telling the pair: ‘That’s you told!’

Holly confirmed this, saying: ‘We are!’

Ann sarcastically told them ‘well done’ before calling Phil and all other men ‘wimps’ for putting up with feminism.

Later Holly asked Ann why she was so against the Me Too campaign, which Ann had called ‘whinging’.

Holly said the campaign had made ‘such a difference’ to women, but Ann disagreed.

During the debate Ann (pictured) ranted about high profile women campaigning for equal pay with their male co-stars, hinting that Phil got made more than Holly

During the debate Ann (pictured) ranted about high profile women campaigning for equal pay with their male co-stars, hinting that Phil got made more than Holly

Phil (left) quickly defended himself saying that he and Holly (right) get equal pay, which she confirmed

Phil (left) quickly defended himself saying that he and Holly (right) get equal pay, which she confirmed

‘No I don’t believe that,’ she said.

Before letting her explain Holly asked ‘why’, to which Ann fired back: ‘I’m about to tell you if you have some patience!’

Ann’s cutting remarks left This Morning viewers in hysterics, with many taking to Twitter to praise her for ‘schooling’ Holly and Phil.

One tweeted: ‘Get in there Ann putting holly in her place!’  

Holly looked awkward (pictured) when Ann scolded her for interrupting her when quizzing the politican about Me Too

Holly looked awkward (pictured) when Ann scolded her for interrupting her when quizzing the politican about Me Too

Ann (pictured) recently claimed 'women have never had it so good' and called the Me Too movement 'whinging'

Ann (pictured) recently claimed ‘women have never had it so good’ and called the Me Too movement ‘whinging’

Another posted: ‘Well that’s you told Holly and Phil stop laughing.’ 

‘Good god just agree with her you will get the interview over quicker,’ another said, followed by laughing emojis. 

Ann recently said that while feminists in the 1970s called for equal pay, nowadays women make ‘pathetic whines for special privileges’. 

Writing in Radio Times, she said: ‘Women have never had it so good. We have a woman Prime Minister (again) and a woman in charge of the Metropolitan Police; and we have women chief executives, women judges, women running media.

‘Here a woman, there a woman – but everywhere a bleat, bleat. It’s the age of the whine and the whinge, of the moan and the groan. And, oh, do the women know how to milk that for all it’s worth, while the men, poor wimps, stand by and meekly watch.’

WHAT IS THE GENDER PAY GAP?

On average, men working in the UK earn between 9 per cent more than women in the same profession, numbers released by the Office for National Statistics show.

But in many professions the gulf is far larger – with female bank managers earning on average £39,995 a year – over a quarter (28.6 per cent) less than men on £58,070.

The data reveals that public sector staff are still on an average higher wage than those in the private sector – taking home £599 a week compared to £532.   

Male farmers take home more than 20 per cent more than women – earning on average £10,59 an hour rather than £8.39 an hour given to females.

The overwhelming majority of professions tend to pay more to men than women.

And research conducted in October 2017 showed that just three jobs do not have a gender pay gap at all – bar staff, medical and dental technicians, and waiters. 

From April 2018, all employers with more than 250 staff have been required by law to publish their gender pay gap online.

Figures also show that average weekly earnings for full-time employees in the UK were £550, up 2.2 per cent from £539 in 2016 and the highest rise since 2008. 

TUC (Trade Union Congress) comments say women are essentially working for free for the first 67 days of the year.

Justine Greening, women and equalities minister, said: ‘Eliminating the gender pay gap is key to building a stronger economy where everyone plays by the same rules.

‘It is simply good business sense to recognise the enormous potential of women and to take action to nurture and progress female talent.’

She added: ‘I’m now calling on employers across the country to get on with publishing their gender pay gap. They have until 31st March to do so.

‘By shining a light on where there are gaps, employers can take action and make sure that we are harnessing the talents and skills of men and women‎.’  

 

 

 

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