Civil Servants vs Prime Minister

172 civil servants paid more than the Prime Minister

Over 170 civil servants who earn more than the Prime Minister were named yesterday.

In total, they cost taxpayers in excess of £29million a year, according to details released as part of a new transparency drive by the Government.

John Fingleton, the Chief Executive of consumer watchdog the Office of Fair Trading, took home between £275,000 and £280,000 last year – nearly double David Cameron’s £142,500 pay.

David Nicholson, the NHS Chief Executive, was second on the list with a total salary and benefits worth up to £260,000.

The salary and perks packages were revealed by the Cabinet Office as part of a pledge by the Government to give the public more access to official information.

The name, job title, grade and salary level of all 172 Whitehall officials with salaries of more than £150,000 was released – the first time some of this information has been made public.
The details have been revealed in an attempt to try to justify an assault on mandarins’ pay and perks as the Government battles to control the £157billion deficit.

Mr Cameron has repeatedly said that those at the top must set an example if the Government is to justify reducing pay and perks across the entire public sector.
Ministers have already announced a one-year pay freeze for all but the most poorly paid public sector workers.