ALMOST £100,000 was paid out to politicians who lost their seats at last month’s general election.
A recent Freedom of Information request detailed the amount paid to the 11 sitting Members who stood but failed to secure a seat in the new Assembly – totalling £97,569.47.
Previously, all Members were entitled to one month’s salary as a redundancy package regardless of whether they had lost their seat or if they had voluntarily stepped down or how long they had served as a States Member. However, changes introduced following recommendations made by the former States Members’ Remuneration Body meant that only States Members who stood were eligible, while the amount received would be one month’s pay for every four years of continuous service.
Several high-profile politicians lost their seats last month, including Chief Minister John Le Fondré and the Assembly’s longest-serving Member, Deputy Judy Martin. The FoI response stated: ‘Loss-of-office compensation is paid in accordance with a recommendation of the former States Members’ Remuneration Review Body and is limited to Members who stand for, but who fail to secure, re-election. Such Members are entitled to one month’s basic remuneration per four years’ continuous service (subject to a minimum of two years’ service and pro-rated as necessary). One month’s salary in this context is £4,166.67, in line with the current salary for elected States Members.
‘The former Chief Minister, John Le Fondré, continued to hold responsibility for this role past 27 June 2022 until all new Ministers were elected to their roles on 11 July 2022. He was not remunerated for this additional time.’
Last year, the Assembly agreed that a new independent body be established to review politicians’ pay to replace the States Members’ Remuneration Review Body.
However, calls to repeal a law which requires all Members to be paid the same amount were rejected by 25 votes to 18.
