She couldn’t be more deserving…
Liz Truss will be entitled to claim up to £115,000 for the rest of her life despite being prime minister for less than two months.
It’s thanks to something known as the Public Duties Cost Allowance, which was setup by John Major in 1991 when he was PM.
Former prime ministers can claim money if they continue to remain “active in public life” and “fulfil public duties.” The government website explains that the PDCA is:
“A reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is not paid to support private or parliamentary duties.
“The PDCA is in addition to any constituency office which they may maintain as a Member of Parliament.”
GOV.UK also states that “all former prime ministers are eligible to draw on the PDCA” unless they are “serving as Leader of the Opposition.”
It adds: “If the former Prime Minister accepts any public appointment, the level of the allowance will be reviewed in relation to the remuneration, if any, which he or she will receive from public funds.”
At the moment, the current limit is £115,000. However, this could change in 2023, when it will be reviewed by the PM at the start of parliament.
According to the Sunday Times, via the Independent, Tony Blair has claimed more than £1 million through the allowance.
Love Island series 8 lasted longer than Liz Truss' time in Downing Street pic.twitter.com/WjnFkVdpqN
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) October 20, 2022
On Thursday, Truss confirmed in a statement outside Number 10 that she has decided to resign from her position as Prime Minister following a meeting with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of backbench MPs.
By resigning, she confirmed her place in the history book as the shortest serving Prime Minister in British history. She served just 44 days in office, smashing the previous record set by George Canning, who died in 1827 after 119 days in office.
Truss said: “I came into office at a time of great economic and international instability.
“Families and businesses were worried about how to pay their bills.
Explaining that she was elected ‘with a mandate to change this’, Truss added: “We delivered on energy bills.
“I recognise, though, given the situation, I cannot deliver the mandate on which I was elected by the Conservative Party.
“I have therefore spoken to His Majesty the King to notify him that I am resigning as leader of the Conservative Party.
“This morning, I met the chairman of the 1922 committee, Sir Graham Brady. We’ve agreed that there will be a leadership election to be completed within the next week.”
The country will now only be able to watch on as the Tory party choose their third Prime Minister this year.
And it sounds like someone is eyeing up a comeback…
Related links:
- Joe Lycett trolls Liz Truss following her resignation
- Krishnan Guru-Murthy taken off air after calling Steve Baker a c**t
- Truss resignation sparks market recovery – with pound shooting up
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