The chief executive of BP was rewarded for a year of bumper profits with a £5.65m (€8.18m) pay package – equivalent to more than £15,000 (€21,700) a day.

The chief executive of BP took a 32% pay cut last year, according to the oil giant’s annual report – as the company’s share price slumped to four-year lows.

Jeffrey Archer was today released from prison, two days after being jailed for four years for perjury and perverting the course of justice, to attend his mother’s funeral.