Britain’s year of political turmoil could cost the taxpayer up to £726,000 in severance payments to former ministers and whips, Sky News analysis of House of Commons library data has found.
Since the beginning of the year, 79 government ministers and whips have either been sacked or have resigned.
And 71 of them are likely to be eligible for payments averaging more than £10,000 – no matter how long they were in the job.
To receive the lump sum, they cannot return to government within three weeks of leaving their post.
This means anyone shuffled out by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday will be eligible for a payment as long as they do not return to a paid government role by 15 November.
Our calculations are based on what they will be eligible to receive if they remain on the backbenches for that period.
Brandon Lewis: £34,000
Mr Lewis, who most recently served as justice secretary under Liz Truss, is eligible for the largest sum, with two…
