After Boris Johnson’s resignation as prime minister, he joined the list of those who can receive up to £115,000 a year to assist with post-leadership life. This is known the Public Duty Costs Allowance and is in addition to the salary he earned as an MP.
However, he resigned as an MP on Friday after seeing the Privileges Committee report that included findings that he deliberately misled Parliament over the Partygate scandal.
Now, as a result of the report’s findings, he could be denied a parliamentary pass, something that is usually available to any former MP.
Nonetheless, Mr Johnson will still be eligible for a number of former MP benefits, as well as some that are exclusive to former prime ministers.
So what happens when MPs resign, do they have to give notice and how much money do they get?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What happens when an MP resigns?
Members are no longer entitled to their salary of £84,144. An MP who was in the Cabinet would have earned £71,090 on top of this.
Do MPs have to give notice?
Members who wish to resign their seat must be appointed to one of two offices of the Crown: these are the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds and the Crown Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead.
There are several ways by which a member’s seat may be vacated during the lifetime of a Parliament:
- A member wishing to resign will be appointed to one of two offices of the Crown mentioned above.
- A member may die.
- A member may be subject to a successful recall petition under the terms of the Recall of MPs Act 2015.
- A member may be expelled by a resolution of the House.
- A member may be disqualified by becoming a member of the House of Lords.
- A member may be disqualified by being sentenced to be imprisoned or detained indefinitely for more than a year in the United Kingdom, Isle of Man, the Channel Islands or the Republic of Ireland; or if they are convicted of treason.
- A member may under certain circumstances be disqualified for bankruptcy.
- A member may accept one of a number of offices that are incompatible with membership of the House of Commons.
What payout do they get?
Under the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 those resigning from office are entitled to a one-off payment of 25 per cent of the annual salary they were paid when holding that office. This includes ministers, the opposition leader, whips and the Speaker.
One minister who left Boris Johnson’s government last year vowed to hand over her severance to charity. Michelle Donelan, who quit as education secretary after less than two days in the role in July 2022, said she would give away her payout of nearly £17,000.
In response to a tweet that pointed out she was entitled to £16,876.25, she said: “If this is the case I shall be donating it in full to a local charity.”
