Pay scales at M&S

Forget Sir Stuart Rose's harsh treatment in taking a £1 million pay cut to a paltry £1.3 million for heroically running Marks & Spencer last year, the real iniquities are to be found among his lieutenants.

Steve Esom, the former Waitrose chap running M&S food, was appointed to the board in March, and the reports and accounts reveal he will be paid £535,000. Kate Bostock was appointed on the same day to run the clothes arm. On £500,000.

Blimey, isn't that a bit unfair, and fodder for those who say women get paid less than blokes for doing the same job? "It's not the same job", says M&S, "as food is a bigger business".

Hmm, only marginally, and clothing, surely, is the real battleground? "Anyway, Kate's getting bonuses worth £280,000 over three years."

Yes, but Steve's just got a £500,000 one-off bonus guaranteed from when he quit Waitrose? "But Kate is getting the bigger pay rise, up 19% or an extra £80,000 a year." Er, so?

- City Spy diary, London Evening Standard