A COALITION adviser was paid more than £50,000 for less than six months’ work on “cost reduction” across Britain’s Fire Services, it was revealed yesterday.

Sir Ken Knight collected £53,635 last year while carrying out his cost-cutting review for the Department for Communities and Local Government — a document that drew union accusations of providing “cover” for Con-Dem cuts to emergency services’ budgets.

But the latest admission by Tory Fire Minister Brandon Lewis’ office could fan the flames still further, with department officials previously confirming that Mr Knight’s work consumed a total of 119.5 days under a zero-hours contract.