Is the public sector pay gap too wide?

The top 300 chief executives in the public sector enjoyed an average pay rise of 12.8% last year, taking their average pay up to £237,000 a year, according to a report by the Taxpayers’ Alliance.

The organisation’s second public sector rich list report reveals that 142 public sector bosses earn more than Prime Minsiter Gordon Brown.

One NHS trust director earned almost £400,000 last year, with nine earning more than £200,000.  The top earning public sector boss was Royal Mail chief executive Adam Crozier, who earned £1,038,000 last year.

Commission for Social Care Inspection chief inspector Paul Snell received a 14% pay rise last year, including a £12,000 bonus, taking his annual salary to £152,000, the report says.

Alliance chief executive Matthew Elliot said: “At a time when the Government is rightly aiming to restrain public sector pay increases to 2 per cent, these top officials shouldn’t be hiking their pay by six times as much.”

Is the alliance right? Has the pay gap between senior managers and frontline staff become too wide? Vote in our poll below and send your opinions to simeon.brody@rbi.co.uk