Sixty-eight staff at the Financial Conduct Authority are paid more than the prime minister, new figures reveal.

The numbers, disclosed under a Freedom of Information Act request, throw current plans to overhaul pay at the watchdog back into the spotlight. Top brass are paid more than £161,401 — drawing a battle line between those who say senior staff need to be paid even more to stop them leaving, and those who believe remuneration at the regulator is too high.