Simon Case will investigate “hostile briefing” against Sue Gray after it was revealed that she earns more than the Prime Minister. 

On Thursday afternoon the BBC reported that Sue Gray was asked to take a pay cut – to avoid such a story – but declined. 

A government source close to Ms Gray told the BBC that this claim was “categorically untrue” and she had “had no involvement in any decision on her pay”.

The Cabinet Secretary was called in to look at the row, Nick Watt told BBC Newsnight on Thursday night, but added: “the view is there’s only one person who can sort this out: Keir Starmer.”