*Geraldine Scott, Political Reporter, July 8 2022, The Times*
More than £423,000 will be handed to those who resigned from government jobs in protest at Boris Johnson’s leadership, with one set to receive a payout after less than two days in the job.
Those leaving the government payroll are entitled to a quarter of their annual ministerial salary.
This includes Michelle Donelan, who was education secretary for less than 36 hours. Despite appearing to be the shortest-serving secretary of state in history, taking a record that has stood for more than two centuries, she is entitled to nearly £17,000.
However, after being alerted to the rule on Twitter, she replied: “If this is the case I shall be donating it in full to a local charity.”
The Liberal Democrats said that Johnson, who is in line for a handout of £18,860, and former ministers should reject their taxpayer-funded payouts.
Nearly 60 MPs have resigned from government or party roles since Tuesday night, following the lead set by the resignations of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid from the positions of chancellor and health secretary respectively.
Donelan, formerly the minister for further and higher education, replaced Nadhim Zahawi at the head of the department on Tuesday after he was promoted to replace Sunak. In her letter of resignation yesterday she said she took the role because she was “worried about the prospect of no ministers in the department as we approach [exam] results day”.
According to analysis by the Liberal Democrats, the total bill for the taxpayer will reach £423,995.
Johnson will also be entitled to the £115,000-a-year “public duty costs allowance” available to former prime ministers. He can claim the money from the Cabinet Office as “a reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and secretarial costs arising from [a prime minister’s] special position in public life”. The allowance has no end date but would be reviewed if he took another public appointment.
Wendy Chamberlain, the Lib Dem chief whip, said: “Conservative MPs spent months defending Boris Johnson and failed to get rid of him when they had the chance. The public won’t forgive them for keeping him in place for so long.
“Now Conservative infighting and sheer incompetence has cost the taxpayer yet more money during this cost-of-living crisis. Conservative ministers who resigned should do the decent thing and pass up their pay-offs for the good of the country.”
The Labour MP Rupa Huq raised concerns in the Commons about the redundancy pay total, asking Michael Ellis, the Cabinet Office minister: “Can he confirm that they will be forfeiting their right to this, because we do not reward failure?”
Ellis replied: “The matter [Huq] refers to is set in statute so it’s a matter for the law, and that law would have been passed by this House.”
They all want shooting. They’re profiteering. 36 days for 17 grand. While we’re all hurting. It’s disgusting.
I’m going to think of that as a necessary investment for ousting Johnson, Education secretary, aside. She should donate that to charity.
You walk out of a job in the real world and you’re screwed by the government. Go figure
It’s such a gravy train. What a waste of money.
Why would they get a payout for resigning? Mental.
Meanwhile Larry the Cat holds on.. the longest serving cabinet minister.
To clarify, the former education Secretary (for 35 hours) Michelle Donelan, has stated if she is paid, she will donate the money to charity. I’d imagine many ministers will follow suite
The only job where you get paid to resign….sigh….
I e been told elsewhere on this sub that these cabinet positions are akin to zero hours contracts on top of their work as MPs, and that’s how they can just stop doing it. Why are they given extra payments when they not only *resign*, which I think would be odd anywhere, except in relation to outstanding holidays and similar, but are resigning from something like a zero hours contract?
What is the explanations for these payments? And why is it reasonable that they are awarded even after only two days in the position?
But no money for nhs, rail, postal, fire, etc workers at all eh
Just half a mill for themselves for REFUSING to do a job
I hope the one who’s getting 17k for 2 days work never knows a days peace in her life, heckle the shit out of her everywhere she goes. These people are absolutely fucking vile. They pit us against each other – benefit British vs the working class when it’s election time while they’re the biggest scroungers of all. Fuck them all – I’m so sick of headlines like this.
Shame on any of them that accept it.
Not one tory has done the right thing through all the wrong doing, all are enablers of mass dishonesty.
She either took the job as a gamble on Johnson and saw it falter very quickly, or she took it knowing she would get the full payout if she quit soon after taking the position. Either way, she comes out of this poorly.
Hope we’re ready for this to happen all over again in a couple of weeks when the new bunch who’ve just been slotted in to replace them get their payouts.
Only job in the world you get paid for quitting. What an absolute fairyworld these people live in
Each should refuse payment so it stays in public purse. We should be told who took the money and who didn’t. And giving it to charity is still taking the money!
Scumbags get paid to protest we goto prison. Fuck our politicians.
18 comments
Article contents:
*Geraldine Scott, Political Reporter, July 8 2022, The Times*
More than £423,000 will be handed to those who resigned from government jobs in protest at Boris Johnson’s leadership, with one set to receive a payout after less than two days in the job.
Those leaving the government payroll are entitled to a quarter of their annual ministerial salary.
This includes Michelle Donelan, who was education secretary for less than 36 hours. Despite appearing to be the shortest-serving secretary of state in history, taking a record that has stood for more than two centuries, she is entitled to nearly £17,000.
However, after being alerted to the rule on Twitter, she replied: “If this is the case I shall be donating it in full to a local charity.”
The Liberal Democrats said that Johnson, who is in line for a handout of £18,860, and former ministers should reject their taxpayer-funded payouts.
Nearly 60 MPs have resigned from government or party roles since Tuesday night, following the lead set by the resignations of Rishi Sunak and Sajid Javid from the positions of chancellor and health secretary respectively.
Donelan, formerly the minister for further and higher education, replaced Nadhim Zahawi at the head of the department on Tuesday after he was promoted to replace Sunak. In her letter of resignation yesterday she said she took the role because she was “worried about the prospect of no ministers in the department as we approach [exam] results day”.
According to analysis by the Liberal Democrats, the total bill for the taxpayer will reach £423,995.
Johnson will also be entitled to the £115,000-a-year “public duty costs allowance” available to former prime ministers. He can claim the money from the Cabinet Office as “a reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and secretarial costs arising from [a prime minister’s] special position in public life”. The allowance has no end date but would be reviewed if he took another public appointment.
Wendy Chamberlain, the Lib Dem chief whip, said: “Conservative MPs spent months defending Boris Johnson and failed to get rid of him when they had the chance. The public won’t forgive them for keeping him in place for so long.
“Now Conservative infighting and sheer incompetence has cost the taxpayer yet more money during this cost-of-living crisis. Conservative ministers who resigned should do the decent thing and pass up their pay-offs for the good of the country.”
The Labour MP Rupa Huq raised concerns in the Commons about the redundancy pay total, asking Michael Ellis, the Cabinet Office minister: “Can he confirm that they will be forfeiting their right to this, because we do not reward failure?”
Ellis replied: “The matter [Huq] refers to is set in statute so it’s a matter for the law, and that law would have been passed by this House.”
They all want shooting. They’re profiteering. 36 days for 17 grand. While we’re all hurting. It’s disgusting.
I’m going to think of that as a necessary investment for ousting Johnson, Education secretary, aside. She should donate that to charity.
You walk out of a job in the real world and you’re screwed by the government. Go figure
It’s such a gravy train. What a waste of money.
Why would they get a payout for resigning? Mental.
Meanwhile Larry the Cat holds on.. the longest serving cabinet minister.
To clarify, the former education Secretary (for 35 hours) Michelle Donelan, has stated if she is paid, she will donate the money to charity. I’d imagine many ministers will follow suite
The only job where you get paid to resign….sigh….
I e been told elsewhere on this sub that these cabinet positions are akin to zero hours contracts on top of their work as MPs, and that’s how they can just stop doing it. Why are they given extra payments when they not only *resign*, which I think would be odd anywhere, except in relation to outstanding holidays and similar, but are resigning from something like a zero hours contract?
What is the explanations for these payments? And why is it reasonable that they are awarded even after only two days in the position?
But no money for nhs, rail, postal, fire, etc workers at all eh
Just half a mill for themselves for REFUSING to do a job
I hope the one who’s getting 17k for 2 days work never knows a days peace in her life, heckle the shit out of her everywhere she goes. These people are absolutely fucking vile. They pit us against each other – benefit British vs the working class when it’s election time while they’re the biggest scroungers of all. Fuck them all – I’m so sick of headlines like this.
Shame on any of them that accept it.
Not one tory has done the right thing through all the wrong doing, all are enablers of mass dishonesty.
She either took the job as a gamble on Johnson and saw it falter very quickly, or she took it knowing she would get the full payout if she quit soon after taking the position. Either way, she comes out of this poorly.
Hope we’re ready for this to happen all over again in a couple of weeks when the new bunch who’ve just been slotted in to replace them get their payouts.
Only job in the world you get paid for quitting. What an absolute fairyworld these people live in
Each should refuse payment so it stays in public purse. We should be told who took the money and who didn’t. And giving it to charity is still taking the money!
Scumbags get paid to protest we goto prison. Fuck our politicians.