The row over Sue Gray’s pay is a distraction from what really matters

Whether the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff should be paid more than him is a gossipy non-story. It may be easier to binge on tales of political intrigue than face what’s going on in the world, but Christians must not get distracted from the real work of politics, says Tim Farron

‘Starmer’s top aide paid more than the PM’, said one BBC headline this week, referring to Sue Gray, Keir Starmer’s Downing Street chief of staff, who is paid £3,000 a year more than the prime minister.

Behind the headlines that this recent revelation is generating, there is a genuine conversation to be had about this issue. Is it right that Ms Gray sits on the Whitehall committee responsible for deciding the pay of civil servants and special advisors when she was a civil servant herself until her recent move to Labour’s top team?