Liz Truss’ 44 days as UK PM nets her US$129,000 yearly stipend … for life
- The stipend allocated to former prime ministers is not allowed to be spent on their private lives or to pay for their constituency office
- The annual amount is more than Truss earned in salary during her month and a half as prime minister
Despite her short tenure as Prime Minister, Liz Truss is eligible to claim a 115,000 pound (US$129,306) per year allowance for the rest of her life.
Truss’ 44-day tenure qualifies her for the Public Duty Costs Allowance. The money isn’t for private use, rather to help pay for the additional costs faced by former-prime ministers from being in “public life,” like staffing.
The idea of the shortest-serving prime minister ever receiving the payments has been controversial, with some pointing out that the money could be put to better use. Truss did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the Public Duties Costs Allowance?
The allowance was announced by then-Prime Minister John Major in 1991 following the resignation of his predecessor, Margaret Thatcher.
Payments are made by the central Cabinet Office to reimburse past leaders for office expenses incurred due to the “special position in public life.” They are not allowed to spend the money on their private lives or to pay for their constituency office.
The £115,000 limit is reviewed by the sitting prime minister at least once a year, but it has been static since 2011.
What are the restrictions on it?
All former prime ministers are eligible to take the payments, as long as they do not go on to lead the official opposition in Parliament. There’s a separate salary for that. If they take on another public sector job, the Cabinet Office will review – and possibly reduce – the amount they receive.