Doctor hits back at Question Time audience member on £80,000 by sharing his pay slip

A doctor has responded to claims by a member of the BBC Question Time audience that "every doctor in the country" earns more than £80,000 — by sharing his pay slip.

Last week, the audience member said his annual income was "nowhere near" the top earners in the UK, despite earning more than £80,000 a year.

Responding to Labour's plans to tax the top 5% of earners in the country, he said: "I am nowhere near in the top 5% of earners, let me tell you, I'm not even in the top 50%. Every doctor in the country earns more than that, every solicitor earns more than that, that's not 5%."

Labour MP Richard Burgon and Question Time host Fiona Bruce went on to attempt to explain how those earning £80,000 are in fact in the top 5% of earners, as did other members of the audience.

Now, Dr Asif Munaf has shared his own pay slip on Twitter, revealing his £48,000 salary. He said: "This guy is terribly misinformed. I spent six years at med school and a further seven years of specialist training and I get paid £48,000."

Dr Munaf also said he has an 18-month-old son and his wage is the only income for his family, The Mirror reports .

Dr Asif Munaf shared a picture of his pay slip on Twitter, showing his £48,000 salary (Twitter)

Dr Asif Munaf said his £48,000 salary is his household's sole income (Dr Asif Munaf)

On Question Time, Mr Burgon also pointed out that all solicitors do not earn more than £80,000, saying he earned £40,000 when he worked as one.

The average UK income is around £28,000. Earning more than £75,300 puts you in the top 5%, according to official government figures. The top 1% earn more than £166,000. More than half of the country’s top 1% of earners live in London and the south-east of England.

Labour's tax changes  are expected to apply the 45p additional rate on earnings over £80,000 instead of the current threshold of £150,000. That means under Labour, the man would have to pay roughly an extra £50 for every £1,000 he earns over £80,000 - excluding any other changes to the system.

The Question Time audience member says earning £80,000 does not put him in the country's top 5% of earners (BBC)

Question Time viewers took to  Twitter  calling out the claims.

Josie Hall said: "God I would love to earn £80,000 a year! My husband and I run a 2 man business, work hard and earn not a fraction of that! Yet every year we pay Corporation tax and happy and willing to pay more so we are all secure! I just don't understand."

Tom Joad said: "The beauty of a manifesto that only raises taxes for those earning over £80,000 a year is that it only highlights the greed of those affected when they shout about it like this idiot did."