The top salary under Rishi Sunak went to his chief of staff, Liam Booth-Smith, who was paid up to £149,999 - but the ceiling for special advisor pay had not been increased since 2019

Former senior civil servant Sue Gray, who became a household name as the Partygate investigator, is at the centre of fresh controversy over the revelation she is paid more than her boss - the prime minister.

Keir Starmer has been forced to insist he remains “in control” of the government less than three months after taking office. The prime minister has endured his toughest week since winning the general election amid a No.