Mandarins.

According to the Times: “The number of civil servants earning up to £270,000 has jumped by 40 per cent in the past six years despite Government claims that it has cut back tens of thousands of Whitehall posts, it was disclosed yesterday. In the same period average salaries for mandarins in the most senior grades have increased by 23 per cent, with the total pay bill rising by 71.44 per cent between 2000-06, according to data from the Senior Salaries Review Body.”

Who said public service doesn’t pay?