Sir Keir questioned why Cummings' wages went from £95,000-£99,999 last year to £140,000-£144,999 in 2020, when the pay of public sector workers had been frozen.

Mr Johnson provided a glimmer of hope that he and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen could find some consensus when they meet on Wednesday evening.

Boris Johnson is back in the House of Commons chamber in person for his first PMQs since ending self isolation.