THE COST OF CHANGING PRIME MINISTER
Over the next five years the former occupants of Number 10 could claim around £4m from taxpayers’ pockets
THE UK is currently burning up prime ministers at the fastest rate in almost 100 years and that is hitting taxpayers in the pocket. In the six years since the EU referendum in 2016, 10 Downing Street has had five different occupants - David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and now Rishi Sunak.
Due to their unique position in public life, all ex-pms are entitled to claim an allowance of up to £115,000 a year (not counting pension contributions). Before Mr Cameron left office, that amounted to a maximum of £345,000. An additional four ex-pms could swell that bill by 57%, or £460,000 to a maximum of £805,000 per year.
The payment is known as the Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA) and is designed to cover expenses associated with ministers’ ongoing public duties, including office and secretarial costs.
Former prime ministers are also allowed to claim a pension allowance to contribute towards their office staff pension costs.
Cabinet Office figures show that two former prime ministers - Sir John Major and Tony Blair claimed the maximum amount of £115,000 in 2020-21.
Gordon Brown (£114,712) and David Cameron (£113,423) weren’t far off the maximum that year, while the cost to the public purse claimed by Theresa May was considerably cheaper (£57,832).
Another £55,381 was paid out to contribute towards staff pensions for a total of £571,348, up from £502,595 in 2019-20.
The latest two ex-pms could add an additional £230,000 to the annual bill, plus whatever they claim in staff pension contributions.
Over the next five years - with the current £115,000 limit frozen until at least 2023 - that could cost taxpayers around £4 million.
At 79, John Major is the eldest ex-pm still engaged in public life and claiming PDCA. If Liz Truss continues claiming an allowance until she reaches that age she could receive up to around £3.6m.
While Mr Sunak and his supporters are no doubt hoping his appointment will restore some stability to Westminster, 10 Downing Street has not seen such political upheaval since the end of David Lloyd George’s administration in 1922.
Lloyd George lost the support of his Liberal and Conservative coalition after a string of crises at home and abroad - and after being damaged by a “cash for honours” scandal, when it emerged he had accepted fees for awarding titles to wealthy businessmen.
His replacement, Andrew Bonnar Law, only lasted 211 days before he was forced to quit due to ill health. Stanley Baldwin took over and called a general election, but failed to retain a majority and his government resigned in January 1924.
That saw Ramsay Macdonald become the first Labour Prime Minister, but lacking a majority another general election was called that October - which returned Baldwin to Number 10, where he remained until 1929.