There is widespread concern about public sector cuts - the loss of millions of jobs and the impact on services.

But, at the same time, there is also resentment over the extraordinary levels of reward at the top table of the public sector.

Imagine, for example, being in the shoes of former North Yorkshire chief constable Grahame Maxwell.

Mr Maxwell, you may recall, admitted gross misconduct after he helped a relative to avoid an oversubscribed hotline when applying for a job with the North Yorkshire force.

When Mr Maxwell left his £133,000-a-year post last Tuesday, he went with a £247,000 pay-off to cushion the blow.

The rules allow Mr Maxwell to receive 85 per cent of the difference between his actual pension and the pension he would have received had his gross misconduct not got in the way of him completing 30 years' service.

It's alright for some. The experience of many ordinary workers would be to get the sack if they were found guilty of gross misconduct, let alone walk away with more than a quarter of a million pounds.

Well done to Ripon MP Julian Smith for highlighting the scandal in the House of Commons and for calling for an end to such ridiculous sums of momey being pocketed by disgraced chief officers.

The public sector may be being squeezed like never before but there is still a gravy train being ridden by some.

And it is completely at odds with the experiences of millions of ordinary people in austerity Britain.