By Bill Heaney
It’s fill yer boots time for Tory politicians at Westminster.
Anyone who thinks politics is not a gravy train should think again.
Former Conservative ministers are set to be handed more than £410,000 in redundancy payments, new analysis by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.
This includes £18,860 for Boris Johnson, £16,876 for former cabinet ministers including Priti Patel and Michael Gove, and £14,491 for the former Solicitor General Alex Chalk.
The Liberal Democrats have called on Johnson and other outgoing ministers to forgo the thousands of pounds in redundancy payments, so the money can be used to support struggling families instead.
Under the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, those resigning from office are entitled to 25% of the annual salaries they were paid when holding that office. Analysis by the Liberal Democrats suggests that, across government, this will lead to a total bill to the taxpayer of at least £410,642.
Commenting, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Office Spokesperson Christine Jardine, left, said : “It is outrageous that as families cut back on food and heating, outgoing Conservative ministers are being awarded thousands of pounds, many of them after just a few weeks in the job.
“It seems Liz Truss is against handouts for the British people, but not for her Conservative colleagues. Once again it’s one rule for Conservative MPs, another for everyone else.
“Former ministers are given financial security, while struggling families and pensioners are facing economic chaos, higher bills and collapsing health services.
“Outgoing Conservative ministers should do the decent thing and pass up their payoffs for the good of the country.”
Meanwhile, Christine Jardine MP has criticised Kwasi Kwarteng’s U-turn on abolishing the 45p rate of tax. She said: “This embarrassing U-turn comes too late for the millions panicking over soaring mortgage rates because of the mini budget.
“The Conservatives have a responsibility to do the right thing, which is to cancel their conference and recall Parliament for the sake of the country.
“The corporation tax cut and the bankers bonus rise need to be scrapped and we need a clear plan to help mortgage borrowers cope with eye-watering interest rate rises.
“It simply isn’t right that big banks and huge companies will see their taxes slashed while people wonder how to pay the bills.
“Every day we can see more evidence this Conservative government has no plan and is completely out of touch.”
Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991
“The amount of the payment to which a person who has ceased to hold a relevant office is entitled under this section is an amount equal to one-quarter of the annual amount of the salary which was being paid to that person in respect of that office immediately before the material time.”
Salaries of Members of Her Majesty’s Government who will receive severance payment
Former ministers set to receive hand-outs: (highlighted in red is hand out from losing role under Boris Johnson in July, black is hand out for losing role under Truss in September).“The amount of the payment to which a person who has ceased to hold a relevant office is entitled under this section is an amount equal to one-quarter of the annual amount of the salary which was being paid to that person in respect of that office immediately before the material time.”
Salaries of Members of Her Majesty’s Government who will receive severance payment
Former ministers set to receive hand-outs: (out from losing role under Boris Johnson in July, black is hand out for losing role under Truss in September)
| Name | Position | Claimed Salary | Redundancy Payment |
| Boris Johnson | Prime Minister | £75,440 | £18,860 |
| Sajid Javid | Secretary of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Rishi Sunak | Chancellor | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Simon Hart | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Michael Gove | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Priti Patel | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Grant Shapps | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Dominic Raab | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Steve Barclay | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Greg Clark | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Shailesh Vara | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Johnny Mercer | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Baroness Evans of Bowes Park | Leader of HoL | £104,360 | £26,090 |
| George Eustice | Sec of State | £67,505 | £16,876 |
| Victoria Atkins | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Damian Hinds | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Helen Whately | Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| George Freeman | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Guy Opperman | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| James Cartlidge | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Alex Chalk | Solicitor General | £57,962 | £14,491 |
| Simon Baynes | Parliamentary Under Secretary | £22,375 | £5,593.75 |
| Karl McCartney | Parliamentary Under Secretary | £22,375 | £5,593.75 |
| Edward Timpson | Solicitor General | £57,962 | £14,491 |
| Robin Walker | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| John Glen | Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Minister of State) | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Marcus Jones | Comptroller of HM household | £17,917 | £4,479.25 |
| Jane Hunt | Parliamentary Under Secretary | £22,375 | £5,593.75 |
| Matt Warman | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Julie Marson | Parliamentary Under Secretary | £22,375 | £5,593.75 |
| Maria Caulfield | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| James Morris | Parliamentary Under Secretary | £22,375 | £5,593.75 |
| Alan Mak | Exchequer secretary to Treasury | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Stephen McPartland | Minister of State | £31,680 | £7,920 |
| Rebecca Pow | Parliamentary Under Secretary | £22,375 | £5,593.75 |
| Steve Double | Parliamentary Under Secretary | £22,375 | £5,593.75 |
| Peter Bone | Deputy Leader HoC | Unclear | |
| David Morris | Assistant whip | £17,917 | £4,479.25 |