PUBLIC FAT CAT PAYOFFS AXED
Plan to pull plug on eye-watering severance deals
WHITEHALL fat cats are set to lose their bumper payoffs in a crackdown on severance bonanzas in the public sector.
Treasury Secretary Stephen Barclay plans to cap discretionary payments, which can be as much as £500,000.
And he is looking at ways to stop those with who get them walking straight into another job.
He said: “I was alarmed by the size of payouts often linked to poor performance.
“And people had a habit of reappearing at a later of date in the public square.”
The Government last month abandoned plans to limit golden handshakes at £95,000 after unions said it would hit lower-paid workers. The crackdown will be imposed on local government executives, NHS bosses and headteachers.
Former Northumberland council chief Steven Mason was given a £370,000 payoff and four months later got a
job at South Tees Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust on £180,000 a year. Slough chief exec Roger Parkin got £142,200 severance and early pension payments of nearly £340,000.
TaxPayers’ Alliance boss John O’Connell said the clampdown was “the least taxpayers expect”.
He said: “Rules need to ensure top mandarins and town hall bosses can’t slip through with legal loopholes.”
A consultation on the changes is expected to be unveiled in Rishi Sunak’s long-term money-raising plans on Tuesday – dubbed Tax Day.
The Chancellor is also expected to cut down on inheritance tax red tape. ■ No10 said the Queen’s Speech to announce new building safety rules, asylum reform and the end of fixedterm Parliaments will be on May 11.