Cut 'obscene' pay of footballers, say public

Mr Sutcliffe sparked a row yesterday when he told the Evening Standard the pay of footballers such as Chelsea captain John Terry was "obscene".

Today's YouGov survey found that most people felt that premiership players should get about £60,000 a year - less than many of them are paid a week.

The poll, which was part of a Fabian Society study called The Equality Challenge, found the public thought the gap between lower earners and the highest should be closer to create a fairer Britain. The research found the public's view of a "reasonable, fair salary" ranged from £135,000 for the office of prime minister and £120,000 for the boss of a top company to £22,500 for a bus driver and £14,000 for a worker in a fast-food restaurant.

In his first speech since being appointed sports minister, Manchester United fan and MP for Bradford South Mr Sutcliffe said: "Players' wages are obscene. For John Terry to be on £150,000 a week, the ordinary man in the street can't relate to that." (Terry in fact earns £130,000 a week).

Tom Hampson, co-author of today's report, said: "This research shows how the British public feels the gap between the richest and poorest workers should be narrower."

The Fabian/YouGov research showed that the British public felt that the lowest paid workers deserved more money, while there was a distinct indication that although more senior figures deserved to be paid more, their salaries should not be out of touch with the rest of society.

Mr Hampson said: "Our research shows that the public thinks it is reasonable for the PM to be at the top of the earnings league above best-selling authors, managing directors of FTSE-100 companies and especially premiership footballers but that he should not be earning as much as he does now. Acknowledging this unfairness in society is a challenge for Gordon Brown."

The research also showed the public felt wages for fast-food restaurant and supermarket check-out staff should be higher than they are.

A FAIR WAGE?

Prime Minister - £135,000
MD of a top company - £120,000
Best-selling author - £80,000
GP - £70,000
Premiership footballer - £62,000
State secondary school head - £52,000
Experienced hospital nurse - £33,000
Local beat police officer - £29,500
Good local plumber - £28,500
Bus driver - £22,500
Supermarket check-out staff - £15,000
Fast-food restaurant worker - £14,000