Kinnock gives pounds 7,000 'handshake' to charity

NEIL KINNOCK said yesterday he has been offered a 'golden goodbye' of more than pounds 7,000 by the Treasury, following his resignation as Leader of the Opposition, writes Colin Brown.

The former Labour leader announced he would be handing the money to charity after being told by the Treasury that due to an oversight, it had failed to make a severance payment when he resigned in July, last year.

Earlier this month, the Government was accused of giving hand-outs to its ministerial failures, when it was discovered ex-ministers had been paid nearly pounds 200,000 in severance pay.

The payments were introduced after Baroness Thatcher secured a pounds 40,000 a year ex-gratia allowance for all ex-prime ministers to fund her private office. But Opposition parties have called for a review of the legislation.