Financial support to double for MPs who lose seats in UK election

The Guardian says Departing MPs will get bigger payouts for winding up their offices, with the sum doubling to £17,300, the UK parliament expenses watchdog has announced.

MPs who lose their seats or choose not to stand will be paid for four months after leaving office to enable them to wind up their casework and other duties – doubling from the current period of eight weeks.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) made the change after reviewing arrangements for payments following the next election.

MPs who lose their seats also qualify for “loss of office payments” – at twice the rate of statutory redundancy pay – and the winding-up payments come on top of this.

They have to demonstrate that they are using their time to work on winding up their offices. MPs’ staff can also qualify for such payments. Ministers get different severance payments for loss of office, with a cabinet minister receiving £16,876.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/aug/25/financial-support-double-mps-lose-seats-uk-election