Dominic Cummings' wage revealed as government report shows special advisers earn almost £10 million

The wages of government special advisers have been revealed, with Boris Johnson's former top aide Dominic Cummings among a number of Downing Street earning six-figure salaries.

A Cabinet Office report detailed the £9.6 million pay bill for the 102 special advisers - known as Spads - from April 2019 to March 2020.

Former chief adviser Mr Cummings, who is in the process of leaving his government post, was paid the equivalent of £140,000-£144,999 - up from £95,000-£99,999 last year.

The report revealed the adviser was given a pay rise of around 40% from 2019 to 2020.

Ex-communications chief Lee Cain, who also left Downing Street last month, was paid between £140,000 and £144,999 - the same as the previous year.

Newly-appointed press secretary Allegra Stratton, who is set to front televised briefings from Downing Street in the new year, earns between £125,000 and £129,999.

In comparison, Boris Johnson's prime ministerial salary is £150,402.

Number 10 photographer Andrew Parsons works part-time but earns the full-time equivalent of £100,000-£104,999, the figures show.

Advisers Sir Edward Lister and Munira Mirza both earn between £140,000 and £144,999, while the prime minister's top spin doctor, Jack Doyle, earns between £110,000 and £114,999.

The UK's chief Brexit negotiator, Lord Frost, earns between £125,000 and £129,999, according to the data.

Lesser known Nikki da Costa, director of legislative affairs at No 10, also earns between £125,000 and £129,999.

The report says special advisers are "temporary civil servants appointed to add a political dimension to the advice and assistance available to Ministers.

"In doing so they reinforce the political impartiality of the permanent Civil Service by distinguishing the source of political advice and support".

Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said: "Boris Johnson defended Dominic Cummings when he broke lockdown rules - then awarded him a £50,000 pay rise.

"Yet he's freezing pay for key workers and refusing to give our care workers a pay rise to the living wage.

"Cummings' bumper bonus is an insult to key workers denied the pay rise they deserve. It's another example of how under this Government, it is one rule for the Tory Party and their friends and another for the rest of us."