Truss refuses to apologise for mini-budget while pocketing taxpayer handouts

EMBARGO: For Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats have called for taxpayer-funded payouts to failed ministers to be scrapped, after Liz Truss today refused to apologise to households for the damage caused by her mini-budget.

In 2022, Liz Truss was paid £18,660 in severance pay for her failed tenure as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, former Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng received £16,876 in severance pay, or £444 in taxpayers’ cash for each day he held office. 

The Liberal Democrats said it was "rubbing salt in the wound" for those being hit by spiralling mortgage payments that Truss and her failed Conservative ministers were able to pocket thousands of pounds in handouts. The Lib Dems will debate proposals at their Autumn Conference this weekend to prevent MPs who have resigned for breaking the Ministerial Code from claiming severance pay, and to ensure ministers have to serve in post for a reasonable period of time before being entitled to it.

Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said:

"Liz Truss' refusal to apologise to the families who have seen their finances ruined by her botched budget shows just how out of touch she is. To rub salt in the wound, Truss and her fellow Conservative ministers pocketed thousands of pounds of taxpayers' cash in handouts after causing an economic car crash and fleeing the scene of the crime.

"The British public will never forget this shambolic Conservative government for trashing the economy and sending mortgage rates spiralling.  It is time to change the rules over ministerial severance pay for good so that Liz Truss and other former Conservative ministers cannot again profit from their own failure."

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Under the current rules, Ministers can claim severance pay of up to almost £17,000, and Prime Ministers up to £18,660 - regardless of their length of time in post and the manner of their departure. MP’s entitlement on severance pay can be found in this report.