Ex-minister Chris Huhne claiming £17,000 cabinet pay-off

[blueball]

Now this is the sort of thing that REALLY annoys me. The guy is a millionaire several times over and has no need for this money. If he is found guilty he should be made to pay it back.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17202387

[nichomach]

We can't go on like this. Except when we want to.

[jim]

Question for me is why they have rules that state someone resigning from a post is entitled to money.

It's a bit like the bonuses issue... if you offer people massive sums of money in their contracts, you can't get angry about it when they try to take that money.

I would be very interested to know the rationale behind the severance pay.

[Saracen]

Question for me is why they have rules that state someone resigning from a post is entitled to money.

....

I would be very interested to know the rationale behind the severance pay.

As I understand it, it's to reflect the risk that politicians run that their personal financial situation can change at a moment's notice, due to no fault of their own.

For instance, an MP can lose an election, and a minister can get 'reshuffled', pretty much at the whim of the Prime Minister. And, as Ministers get a substantial extra payment, on top of the £67k you earn as an MP, you could find you're earning £120k one day, and a 'mere' £67k the next.

So this type of payment is supposed to be a sort of bridging payment to give time to adjust. It's a bit like being in a job, with a mortgage, and you boss calling you in one day and telling you you're re-assigned, and by the way, your pay is halved. If you have a mortgage, that's a bit of a problem. This at least gives a breathing gap.

It's also worth bearing in mind that right now, whatever opinion we all have of Mr Huhne's guilt, he's innocent until proven otherwise.




And before anyone jumps on this post asking me to justify such a scheme, I'm not saying I approve of it, because I don't. I'm just saying it's the rationale as I understand it. And there is an element of justification for a "bridge" for an MP that loses their seat. But as far as I'm concerned, if an MP takes a Minister's job knowing it can end in a heartbeat, then they have no justification for taking on commitments that might require a 3-month payout. Live on that mere £67k, and once you've got a ministers pay already earned, spend it if you wish.

But don't assume it'll continue forever.

I did some subcontract work a while back. It was clear, from the outset, that it could go on for years, but nothing more than jobs that were confirmed were guaranteed, and that was, at most, two weeks in advance. Beyond that, there might be no more. So I didn't include that income in financial planning until after it'd been earned.

[BobF64]

And before anyone jumps on this post asking me to justify such a scheme, I'm not saying I approve of it, because I don't. I'm just saying it's the rationale as I understand it. And there is an element of justification for a "bridge" for an MP that loses their seat. But as far as I'm concerned, if an MP takes a Minister's job knowing it can end in a heartbeat, then they have no justification for taking on commitments that might require a 3-month payout. Live on that mere £67k, and once you've got a ministers pay already earned, spend it if you wish.

Exactly, on both counts.

Perhaps they should change to a "benefits in kind" system instead, such as instead of being paid more, they get free food vouchers for the lowest bidding supermarket.

[g8ina]

Couple of links maybe of interest here :

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2468

http://mpsallowances.parliament.uk/m...p/chris-huhne/

[TheAnimus]

http://order-order.com/2012/02/29/fl...severance-pay/

So he was at least complicit in support for suggesting that the previous lot gave back their £20k?

The thing is, this is all politics, I doubt anyone here would give the money back, not unless they were trying to make a point. Its quite possible, if the allegations have any truth, that he will be needing another £20k for his lawyers...

[Saracen]

Couple of links maybe of interest here :

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2468

....

Interesting.

Early Day Motion ....

That this House does not believe Ministers who are forced out of their positions by incompetence or breach of the Ministerial Code should be awarded a taxpayer funded pay-off; and calls on the Senior Salary Review Body to reassess severance packages for Ministers.
.....

A-ha!

So what happened?

....

Total number of signatures: 6

Uh-huhn. About what I expected. So turkeys don't vote for Christmas, then? Wot a surprise.

[BobF64]

I'd like to see them reassess severance packages so that they get the same as an older Parliament gave Charles I..

[peterb]

He is my MP - having just moved. I have just applied for my name to go on the electoral role "just in case".