21 September 2023 , 09:23
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Liz Truss has claimed a staggering £23,310 from her post-Prime Ministerial allowance in her first five months after stepping down from No10 - but do you think the 49-day PM should have access to the funds?
The Public Duty Cost Allowance (PDCA) grants former prime ministers up to £115,000 a year to cover office and secretarial costs arising from public duties. Cabinet Office accounts released on Tuesday show Ms Truss claimed more than £23,000 between October 2022 and March 2023.
She is believed to have continued to claim in the current financial year that started in April, but this figure will not be disclosed until next year’s report, writes Sky News. The shameless MP was also handed £18,660 in severance pay following her 49-day premiership, making her the shortest-serving PM in British history. She resigned in October last year following a disastrous spell in charge, which saw her crash the economy.
Lib Dem Cabinet Office spokeswoman Christine Jardine said: "It's an outrage that while families struggle to pay their bills and put food on the table, Liz Truss profits from her own failure. If Liz Truss wants to cut tax she should lead by example and stop taking hardworking British taxpayers for a ride by claiming handouts.
“The British public will never forgive this shambolic Conservative government. Conservative ministers crashed the economy with all their chaos, and then were rewarded for it. It is time for Rishi Sunak to do the right thing and stop Liz Truss from claiming taxpayers' cash from the ex-PM fund."
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Sir John Major and Sir Tony Blair were the only former leaders to claim the maximum amount in 2022-23, while Gordon Brown was close on £114,627. The figures come a day after Ms Truss twice refused to apologise for the mortgage misery she piled on millions with her botched mini-budget last September. She also called for the retirement age to rise and benefit increases to be lower.
Do you think Ms Truss should have access to the post-Prime Ministerial allowance after serving for just seven weeks? Vote in our poll HERE to have your say.
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