Shortest-Serving PM In History, Liz Truss, Now Eligible For Up To £115,000 Yearly Allowance For “Public Life” Expenses

Liz Truss announced her resignation as UK’s Prime Minister. She only held the job for 44 days, taking over after the wild-haired Boris Johnson resigned. This makes her the shortest-serving Prime Minister in the history of the country. But legally, she is a ‘former prime minister,’ and therefore she qualifies to receive a yearly allowance of up to £115,000, intended to compensate former prime ministers for expenses accrued in the course of continued public service. This is known as the Public Duty Costs Allowance, which was announced by then Prime Minister John Major in 1991.

According to UK fact checkers who are running defense for public outrage about the allowance, “this ‘allowance’ isn’t a cash lump sum for Truss (or any former PM). It’s rather the reimbursement of costs incurred as part of remaining “active in public life”… …e.g. staff costs, office and stationary etc. etc.”

According to the guidance, the allowance is intended to reimburse costs for remaining active in public life after leaving the office of Prime Minister. Quick question–does a fancy dinner speaking engagement as a former prime minister count as being active in public life? I mean, Dr. Fauci has made BANK on “public life” engagements. Speeches, interviews, guest lectures, etc. Would that kind of thing qualify in the UK for Truss? Because wow, this seems like a pretty sweet gig. Basically ups the value of everything you ever do from now on, as long as you can find a way to consider it “public life” activity.

£115,000 should just about cover her energy bill each year, don’t you think? Not surprisingly, the people are not too happy about this arrangement.