Keir Starmer's highest paid special adviser earns up to £159,999

Sir Keir Starmer's chief of staff is the highest paid Government special adviser, new figures have indicated. Morgan McSweeney is paid between £155,000 and £159,999, according to data released by the Cabinet Office on Thursday.

Mr McSweeney, who played a key role in Labour's general election campaign, replaced Sue Gray who quit her role the Prime Minister's chief of staff in October last year.

She had been caught up in rows over pay when it was revealed her salary was higher than Sir Keir's.

The figures released on Thursday showed a raft of other senior Number 10 advisers, also known as spads, occupy the next highest pay rung on salaries between £145,000 and £149,999, as well as the Chancellor's top economic adviser.

National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell is also within the same pay bracket.

Veteran diplomat Mr Powell was appointed as a special adviser in a political capacity last year, a break from the norm which saw previous post-holders taken on as civil servants.

Overall the pay bill for spads in the 2024/25 was £16.7 million, but this included £3.1 million in severance costs, which would have covered outgoing advisers from the previous Conservative government.

The salary bill was £9.5 million, lower than the £10 million spent in the previous year, while national insurance contributions have increased from £1.3 million to £1.6 million over the same period.

According to the Government's release, as of March 31 there were 130 special advisers across the Government.

Salaries over £76,000 are declared in bands of £5,000.

Mr McSweeney was the only person in the £155,000 to £159,999 band.

He made the news earlier this month when reports suggested that rebel MPs blamed Sir Keir's chief of staff for the Government's approach to hanling of Labour MPs during the welfare vote which triggered a rebellion.