Liz Truss's £115,000 Allowance: Entitlement or Outrage?

Following her brief tenure, the question of whether Liz Truss is entitled to receive a yearly allowance of £115,000 has sparked considerable debate. As a former Prime Minister, Truss, like her predecessors, is eligible to claim the Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA), currently capped at £115,000 per year.

This allowance, also equivalent to approximately $129,000, is taxpayer-funded and designed to assist former Prime Ministers still active in public life. The PDCA was established after Baroness Thatcher left office and aims to reimburse expenses incurred while fulfilling public duties, such as necessary office costs.

However, the speed of Truss's departure after just 45 days in office has fueled controversy. Politicians have called on Liz Truss not to receive the allowance, arguing that a short term in office shouldn't automatically guarantee lifelong access to these funds. Some believe that granting Truss access to £115,000 a year for the rest of her life is unjustified.

Despite the public outcry, the existing guidelines state that all former prime ministers are able to claim the PDCA. The guidance specifies that payments are only made to meet the actual cost of continuing to fulfil public duties, covering the reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and other related expenses.

Liz Truss is now one of six prime ministers eligible for this allowance. The discussion continues on whether reform of the PDCA is necessary to address concerns about fairness and value for money, especially in cases of short-term leadership.