FORD’S top executive has earned almost £25m in the past two years, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Alan Mulally, who is based at the firm’s headquarters in Michigan, United States, is the man who is expected to rubberstamp plans to cut jobs, slash production and move assembly of the iconic Transit van from Swaythling, Southampton, to Turkey.

Ford claims it cannot afford the £100m bill to upgrade the Swaythling plant and secure the jobs of its 1,100-strong workforce.

However, union chiefs have accused him of failing Southampton workers and described his salary as “grotesque” and “a massive kick in the teeth”.

A Ford spokesman said Mr Mulally’s earnings were in line with leaders of other large corporations.