Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has sparked a backlash after it emerged his department is hiring a new chair for its energy quango on a salary higher than the Prime Minister's. The chair of Great British Energy - Nuclear would earn £203,268 per year for a three-day week.

The remuneration is more than Sir Keir Starmer's annual salary of £172,153. Tory peer and chair of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, Lord Craig Mackinlay, told GB News: "The waste of taxpayers' money on the altar of net zero has seemingly no bounds.

"The new British Energy quango offer of £200k for a three-day week simply reflects the madness of what we are living through.

"Have no fear, this will end soon as the reality of unsustainable and unreliable energy costs, which other countries have turned their back on, will land in the UK as well, however belatedly."

"The waste is both appalling and shameful and needs to stop, the salary is obscene, and the decision farcical."

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, added: "Taxpayers are sick of overpaid quangocrats.

"GB Energy has barely found its footing, and it's already paying hundreds of thousands to a bureaucrat who doesn't even put in a full week of work.

"If this Government is serious about a bonfire of the quangos, then it needs to crack down on quango fat cat salaries."

Labour created its state-owned energy company Great British Energy as part of its push to net zero.

In a message to applicants, Mr Miliband said: "This is an exciting time for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), as we press ahead with our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower by achieving clean power by 2030 and accelerating to net zero.

"The department is delivering on a clear plan to protect billpayers, reduce the UK’s emissions, enhance our energy security, and create high quality British jobs by generating economic growth.

"The development of new nuclear through Great British Energy - Nuclear is an essential part of this plan."

A DESNZ spokesman said: "We are appointing a permanent Chair of Great British Energy – Nuclear, who will oversee the country’s first small modular reactor programme.

"They will provide strategic direction for the organisation as it matures and ensure it operates efficiently.

"The salary will ensure value for money within the public sector, while also ensuring we attract and can retain the right calibre of candidates."