A row breaks out within government after the prime minister's chief of staff is given a pay rise.

The prime minister's chief staff is one of the most experienced operators in Whitehall.

In the latest leak from inside Downing Street sources said that Ms Gray, a former civil servant, was being paid £170,000 as chief of staff, compared to the £166,000 earned by Sir Keir.

Sue Gray is being paid more than her boss

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

The Prime Minister's chief of staff Sue Gray is being criticised for having a higher salary than him.

Sir Keir Starmer 's controversial chief of staff faced a backlash from senior officials after leaked details of her salary revealed her pay has been boosted to £170,000.

Sue Gray, Keir Starmer's aide, now earns £170,000, surpassing the Prime Minister's salary and sparking controversy within the government about the pay rise.

Sir Keir Starmer's top aide reportedly got a pay rise after the general election that put her earnings above the Prime Minister's.