Liz Truss paid £65k for attending conference: How is the former PM earning money today?

Liz Truss is known as the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history. She resigned in October last year after the ‘Growth Plan’ mini-budget proposed under her rulewas blamed for ‘crashing’ the British pound, ‘spooking’ the financial markets, fuelling the cost of living crisis and undermining Britain’s credibility around the world.

But despite just 45 days in office, Liz Truss is able to land lucrative jobs that earn her thousands of pounds. According to the register of MPs' interests, the former PM was paid £65,751.62 to give a speech at a conference in India earlier this year. She was also provided with travel and luxury accommodation.

News about the politician's whopping fees comes as Rishi Sunak was questioned by a schoolgirl on Sky Kids channel about the solution for the cost of living crisis as he is 'so rich'. Current PM's own wealth come into spotlight in recent weeks after his wife Akshata Murty pocketed another £6.7 million in dividends from her father's multi-billion IT enterprise.

Liz Truss earns twice the average UK salary for a few-hours conference

Former UK PM Liz Truss was paid £65,751.62 to give a speech at a conference in Mumbai earlier this year. The event was organised by the media corporation ABP Networks. She as also provided with luxury accommodation worth £1,800 for her and a staff member, plus flights and expenses.

This information was revealed in the latest register of MPs’ interests.

Truss told the crowd at the conference that she was ‘struck by the energy and the excitement of the city’.

She added:

As a country that believes in freedom… you are going to be vital in the next few years.

According to the Office for National Statistics, the median full-time salary in the UK in 2020 was £31,461, which is twice less than the former PM's lucrative speech fee.

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⋙ Liz Truss' net worth is among the top 10 UK politicians

How is Liz Truss earning money today?

A month after the Mumbai conference, Liz Truss got almost £6,500 for addressing Tokyo University. It came from the London-based speaking agency Chartwell – which she joined after her stint as Britain’s shortest-serving PM.

The former PM faced calls not to claim the Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA) of up to £115,000 a year that she is entitled to after resigning from her top job.

Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer who raised the issue said she had ‘not earned the right’ to the payout.

Told of her speaking fees, another Labour source said:

After the Conservatives crashed the economy, this shows how out of touch they are.

Liz Truss hasn’t commented on her earnings.

A spokesman for Ms Truss said about her boss:

Liz continues to pursue a variety of local, national and international issues, standing up for Norfolk residents and the people of the United Kingdom.

Read more:

⋙ Rishi Sunak: Schoolgirl asks how he can help struggling families given he is ‘rich’, this was his reply

⋙ Liz Truss' net worth is among the top 10 UK politicians

Sources used:

- Mirror: 'Liz Truss earns £16,500 PER HOUR for a speech on top of paid hotel, flights and expenses'

- BBC News: 'Calls for Liz Truss not to take yearly £115,000 as ex-prime minister'