The prime minister has insisted he is “completely in control” after the BBC revealed a row within government over staff pay.It has emerged Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, Sue Gray, received a pay rise which means she is now on a higher salary than him.

Keir Starmer has been forced to insist he remains “in control” of the government less than three months after taking office. The prime minister has endured his toughest week since winning the general election amid a No.

Sir Keir insisted his team were focused on delivering Labour’s mandate, rather than a row over the top aide’s pay.