£115k For Life vs £0 - PMs vs FMs

While Westminster looks after its own, Holyrood gets nothing.

There are now 10 living Prime Ministers of the UK. Every single one of them can claim £115,000 a year FOR LIFE from the taxpayer.

We deliver exceptional results in everything we do, ensuring your satisfaction at every step.

There are 4 living former First Ministers of Scotland. They get £0.

WHAT IS THE PDCA?

The Public Duty Costs Allowance was set up in 1991 after Margaret Thatcher resigned. It was meant to help former Prime Ministers with office and secretarial costs.

It pays up to £115,000 a year, every year, for life. On top of that they can claim another 10% for staff pensions - so up to £126,500.

It has been frozen at £115k since 2011 but has never been abolished.

WHO CLAIMS IT?

In 2023/24 the taxpayer paid out £836,345 to just 6 former PMs:

• John Major - £115,000 • Tony Blair - £115,000 • Gordon Brown - £114,788 • Theresa May - £113,475 • Liz Truss - £101,332 (for 49 days as PM) • Boris Johnson - £182,083 (including backdated costs)

Rishi Sunak is the only one who said he won't claim it.

In the last decade alone, Blair, Brown and Major have each claimed over £1 MILLION each. Total bill for ex-PMs is now approaching £10 MILLION.

AND SCOTLAND?

Former First Ministers get nothing like this.

When a First Minister leaves office they get a one-off severance payment of 25% of their salary if they are under 65. That's it. No office. No staff. No £115k for life.

Even their pension was slashed. Before 2009, First Ministers got 50% of their salary for life from the day they left. That was scrapped in 2009.

Humza Yousaf, who was First Minister in 2023-24, will get around £2,600 a year when he reaches 65. Not £52,000. £2,600.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Liz Truss was Prime Minister for 49 days. She can claim £115k every year for the rest of her life.

A Scottish First Minister can serve for 8 years, like Nicola Sturgeon, and get zero ongoing support for public duties.

One rule for Westminster. Another for Scotland.