Three West Midlands MPs paid hundreds to appear on TV and radio

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant received payments of £1,800, West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson got £1,500 and, Walsall South MP Valerie Vaz was paid £675 over the last five years.

Mr Fabricant was was paid £1,500 to appear on satirical political quiz show Have I Got News For You in 2013 and £300 for two appearances on Radio 4's Any Questions.

Mr Watson was also paid £1,500 for an appearance on Have I Got News For You in 2012.

And Ms Vaz was paid £600 plus £75 expenses to appear on a Christmas edition of University Challenge.

1. Alan Johnson, Labour, £58,767

2. Diane Abbott, Labour, £43, 380

3. Rory Stewart, Conservative, £17,998

4. Vince Cable. Lib Dem, £10,000

5. Tristram Hunt, Labour, £9,888

LOCAL

Michael Fabricant, Conservative, Lichfield, £1,800

Tom Watson, Labour, West Bromwich East, £1,500

It comes as it was revealed more than £200,000 was paid out to 65 MPs for appearing on BBC programmes.

The biggest recipient nationally was Labour's Alan Johnson who was paid £58,767 over five years.

The MP - who was once touted as a Labour leader - is paid £800 each time he appears on BBC 1's The Week which follows Question Time on a Thursday.

Diane Abbott who represents Hackney is another regular on This Week and has been paid £43,380 over five years.

Business Secretary Vince Cable was paid £10,000 to appear on a special edition of Strictly Come Dancing - but he donated the figure to charity.

And Labour's shadow education secretary has earned £9,888 from appearances on the BBC.

Campaigners said many of the payments could breach BBC guidelines which state MPs should not be paid when they are speaking as a member of their party or expressing political views.

The Taxpayers' Alliance's Andy Silvester said: "This is truly staggering. Licence fee-payers will be asking why the BBC are bothering with guidelines if they're not going to be enforced.

The BBC said: "We make payments to MPs who are involved in programmes where their primary purpose goes beyond promoting a political viewpoint."

Speaking about his appearance on the BBC, Mr Fabricant said: "I am glad that the 45 minute version of Have I Got News for You included my plugs for Lichfield and 'LichVegas the hot destination to visit' which were omitted from the shorter version. I've had very positive comments from parliamentary colleagues and the public saying that it shows that some MPs can be very approachable. Others have said that the plug for Lichfield will help the tourist trade."

West Bromwich East Labour MP Tom Watson appeared on the show in 2011 and managed to win them round by being self-deprecating. Asked what the Labour party thought of the row over the fate of the European single currency MP had replied: "I think we're keeping very quiet on it and waiting for David Cameron to save the day". Pressed further by Hislop he drew his first laugh when he said: "I'm going to do nothing because I'm not a very good politician", greeted by Hislop as 'refreshing candour'.

Ms Vaz represented Royal Holloway and Bedford New College on University Challenge on Christmas Eve.

The biochemistry graduate said: "Our team was disappointed to narrowly lose by 10 points in a close fought match with King's College, Cambridge but we all enjoyed the experience. Also representing Royal Holloway and Bedford New College was the journalist Francis Wheen, who very ably captained our team, Westminster colleague, Norman Baker MP and the adventurer Tori James who comes from Cardiff."

In total one in 10 MPs have been paid to appear on BBC TV or radio.

Tory MP Glyn Davies received £1,800 for 12 appearances on the BBC News Channel to review the newspapers.

And Tory Cabinet member Michael Gove received almost £1,000 to appear twice on Newsnight as part of its Late Review slot.

Ex Labour minister Peter Hain was paid £2,900 for a documentary in South Africa plus a £5,000 fee.

The smallest payment went to Ann Widdecombe - who was given a fridge magnet for an interview.