'She should turn it down': Leeds people share their thoughts on former prime minister Liz Truss’s £115,000 a year grant

Liz Truss is the UK’s shortest reigning prime minister with just 44 days under her belt.

It has come to light that she will be entitled to up to £115,000 a year for the rest of her life - even though she held the position for less than two months.

The ex-prime minister grant comes under the Public Duty Cost Allowance (PDCA) and was introduced in 1991 to help former prime ministers keep a public presence after their time in office.

Reactions to this annual sum of money have been largely negative and Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party has called for Liz Truss to refuse the grant payment.

Starmer appeared on Good Morning Britain and said: “She should turn it down.

“I think that’s the right thing to do.

“She’s done 44 days in office, she’s not really entitled to it, she should turn it down and not take it.”

The Yorkshire Evening Post asked its readers what their opinions on the grant were.

The overwhelming majority of people do not want Liz Truss to receive the £115,000 annually.

One point that was made repeatedly was the former prime minister's short stay at No10.

James May said: “Of course she should not be allowed to do it…she didn’t do the job, she blagged her way in and wasn’t competent.

Janet Cooper wrote: “It’s ridiculous giving someone that amount of money for holding a job for 44 days.”

Lynn Hammill asked the question: “Surely under normal employment she would be in a probationary period and a company would not continue paying a pension or salary of someone who had not completed the probation period.

“Morally she should not take it.”

Many readers pointed out that it is particularly bad timing for such a sum of money to be granted as the country is dealing with a serious cost of living crisis.

Cheryl Wylde wrote: “No prime minister should get this because they are PM, they get paid enough while running the country or sitting on a bench.

“It makes my blood boil knowing this when our country, our working people are in need of it the most.”

Colin Senior said: “Why should she get this when we the voters are struggling with bills and the cost of living.

“I wish I got this amount every year, I would settle for half.”

However some readers thought that Liz Truss is entitled to the money.

Ian Tinnion commented: “Yes she’s entitled to it because she was the prime minister and Starmer would be gratefully accepting it - double standards once again.

“Well done Liz, money well deserved, I hope you enjoy it.”

Gary Wright said: “Sorry but if I was the prime minister for just a week I would take it.

“It wasn’t her who made the rules, of course you’d take it.”

Brian Anderson agreed, he commented: “Sure, anybody would take it if the rules allowed, I would.”

Guido Tonutti wrote: “She did the job so she takes the benefits.”