Alistair Asher, the general counsel of the Co-operative Group, was on a higher basic salary than the average FTSE 30 legal chief even before news of the group’s above inflation pay review emerged at the weekend.

Leaked details of the Co-op’s executive remuneration review – first disclosed by The Observer at the weekend and since seen by Legal Week – show Asher’s current basic salary of £475,000 is at the top end for UK listed companies.