“Why did I quit? Because my mortgage goes up this month from 800 to 2,000 pounds sterling (or about 930 to 2,340 euros).” George Freeman decided to leave his post as a minister in the British government last November because his salary, estimated at 140,000 euros per year, no longer allows him to pay his bills, reports The Guardian.
The politician believes that he will no longer be able to pay his housing payments, but also other costs linked to his divorce in 2014. George Freeman thus explained that he could no longer provide his pensions. his children as well as their school fees.
“Exhausted, bankrupt and depressed”
According to him, political missions are not paid enough and will soon be reserved for “hedge fund donors, young image specialists and failing trade unionists”. He also said he was “exhausted, bankrupt and depressed”, after five high-profile positions held in recent years, under five different prime ministers.
The 56-year-old man also received compensation each time he changed positions. As The Guardian points out, British ministers under the age of 65 are entitled to loss of office compensation equivalent to a quarter of their salary if they leave office and are not appointed to a new position within three weeks.
A post of deputy and other possible functions
In July 2022, George Freeman received the equivalent of more than 9,000 euros after leaving Boris Johnson’s government. He joined that of Rishi Sunak four months later.
Today, the fifty-year-old retains his position as deputy, for which he should earn around 100,000 euros annually. But he will be able to combine other activities, provided he has the approval of the Advisory Committee on Professional Appointments.
The housing crisis
Asked about George Freeman’s comments, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was firm. “There are ways of setting the remuneration of MPs and ministers and there are no plans to change that.” It must be said that the situation of millions of Britons will become critical in the coming months: mortgage costs will increase by 19 billion pounds sterling (22 billion euros), while many households see their fixed rate loans end. Annual housing costs are expected to jump by around 1,800 pounds (more than 2,000 euros) for each household.
2024-02-02 16:19:58
#salary #euros #longer #minister #resigns
