Payments to civil servants during chaotic Truss and Johnson era cost taxpayers over £750,000

Subscribe to e Email View from Westminster for expert analysis straight to your inboxReceive our free email View from WestminsterPlease enter a valid email addressPlease enter a valid email addressI would like to receive emails about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice{{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}An error has occurred. Please try again later{{ /verifyErrors }}

The revolving door of ministers and civil servants leaving government under Liz Truss and Boris Johnson has cost the taxpayer over £750,000 in severance pay.

The controversial sacking of former Treasury chief Sir Tom Scholar, who was sacked by Ms Truss before his disastrous tax cut budget, cost the government £457,000 £0 in total.

Ms Truss and Mr Johnson were awarded nearly £20,000 each, despite the former only being in post for 49 days. Mr Johnson's Deputy Chief Whip Chris Pincher, who quit after allegations he groped two drunken men, also received £7,920 in severance pay.

The figures - totaling £784,236 - were revealed in the Treasury's annual report and laid bare the chaos in government during the Prime Ministerial terms of Ms Truss and Mr Johnson.

Mr. Johnson resigned after more than 50 members of his government resigned over a series of scandals including Partygate and the handling of allegations against Mr Pincher.

His successor, Ms Truss, was cut short last October after a wave of unfunded tax cuts slumped the pound, sent mortgage rates soaring and shattered Britain's reputation for financial stability.

A total of at least 45 whips, ministers and civil servants received severance packages after being sacked or resigned during the year to the end of March. Of those who received severance pay, only Rishi Sunak - who received £16,876 after stepping down as Chancellor in July 2022 - handed over the entire sum to the Treasury.

Much of the turnover occurred towards the end of Mr Johnson's term as Prime Minister or during Ms Truss' brief period in office, which ended in disaster last October.

As did Ms Trus s and Mr Johnson, former Chancellor Kwasi K Warteng was awarded £16,876 after being made redundant amid economic fallout from him and Ms Truss tax cuts. teng to walk away with "huge gains".

Deputy Chief...