Ministers who serve less than six months in government won’t get payoffs as PM tightens rules on ‘golden goodbyes’
Starmer tightens rules on ministers’ severance pay in major shake-up
- Sir Keir Starmer is implementing a significant overhaul of the system for ministerial severance pay and public appointments.
- Under the new regulations, ministers will only be eligible for severance payments if they have served for more than six months, or if they have not committed a serious breach of the ministerial code.
- The Advisory Committee for Business Appointments (Acoba) will be abolished and replaced by a new Ethics and Integrity Commission, formed from the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
- These reforms are designed to address concerns over taxpayer costs, such as the £3 million spent on severance fees during the 2022 political instability, and to prevent payouts for short-term ministerial stints.
- Furthermore, former ministers who violate business appointment rules will be required to repay any severance pay they received.