Truss handed £18k severance pay after quitting as payouts for Johnson and Kwarteng revealed

Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng both pocketed thousands of pounds in severance pay after they left the Government following their disastrous mini-Budget, official figures show.

The former prime minister received a severance payment of £18,660 after resigning in October after sparking economic turmoil, while the ex-chancellor received £16,876 after being sacked 11 days earlier by Ms Truss over the ill-fated package of tax cuts.

Ms Truss’s controversial sacking of top Treasury civil servant Sir Tom Scholar in September, which is thought to have dented confidence on financial markets, cost the Government nearly half a million pounds (£457,000) in severance and other payments, the department’s annual accounts show.

The Treasury’s annual accounts, published on Thursday, reveal that Sir Tom received a £335,000 severance payment on his dismissal as permanent secretary, along with £122,000 in annual leave adjustments, payments in lieu of notice and other payments.

Boris Johnson also received an £18,660 payout after being forced out of office as prime minister following the resignation of dozens of ministers following Partygate and other scandals.

Christopher Pincher, whose June 2022 resignation as deputy chief whip over allegations he groped two men at the Carlton club signalled the end of Mr Johnson’s premiership, received a severance payment of £7,920.

Rishi Sunak also received a £16,876 payout after quitting as Mr Johnson’s chancellor but later repaid this amount.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said: “This is a slap in the face for all those who have seen their mortgages soar because of Truss and Kwarteng’s disastrous mini-Budget.

“It is frankly insulting that whilst people struggle with the cost-of-living crisis, those responsible for their financial hardship are being showered with tens of thousands of pounds of tax-payers cash.

“If any of these disgraced former Conservative ministers had a shred of integrity left they would hand these pay-outs back.”