Commons hands out bumper ‘golden goodbyes’ to Bercow-era staff with director general among those getting £90k – and one executive getting a whole YEAR’S salary
- EXCLUSIVE: Commons handed out series of substantial payoffs to staff last year
- Accounts show departing director general received up to £95,000 exit payment
- Speaker John Bercow stood down from the chair after 10 years in October 2019
The House of Commons has been handing out bumper ‘golden goodbyes’ to Bercow-era staff – with the departing director general among those handed £90,000.
Ian Ailles is leaving his £175,000 a year job within weeks, having negotiated a payoff of between £90,000 and £95,000 after serving less than six years.
Director of Security Eric Hepburn was handed a ‘voluntary exit’ package of £85,000 to £90,000 when he left his £115,000-a-year post in December.
According to the latest Commons accounts, Mr Hepburn’s pension pot is worth £1.2million.
Edge Watchorn, who was director of ‘participation’ and helped steer former Speaker John Bercow’s controversial education centre project, stepped down in April.
She received a payment of £85,000 to £90,000 – which appears to have been equivalent to her annual salary.
John Bercow’s decade-long tenure in the Speaker’s chair came to an end in October 2019
Ian Ailles (pictured giving evidence to a Commons committee) is formally leaving his £175,000 a year job within weeks, having negotiated a payoff of between £90,000 and £95,000 after serving less than six years
David Hemming, who was the estates manager until September 2019, was also handed between £85,000 and £90,000 when he left his £110,000 job in an ‘organisational restructure’.
The departures coincided with the end of Mr Bercow’s decade-long tenure in the chair in October 2019.
The former Speaker split opinions, with criticism for his lavish expenses and perceived bias over Brexit – but also praise of some of his procedural reforms.
He also faced allegations of bullying staff, something he always strongly denied.
One senior Commons source told MailOnline there are ‘more exits to come’ as the House tries to reduce headcount.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has been scrambling to get a grip on the multi-billion pound restoration and renewal project at Parliament – with fears the costs could spiral out of control.
A House of Commons spokesman refused to comment on individual cases, but confirmed Mr Ailles left his role ‘under agreed voluntary exit terms’.
‘Our exit payments are generally informed by the rules set out under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, where relevant,’ the spokesman said.
‘Each payment is subject to an individual business case to ensure value for money.
‘The size of payments is determined by factors including the employee’s age, salary, length of service and pension scheme membership.’
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has been scrambling to get a grip on the multi-billion pound restoration and renewal project at Parliament – with fears the costs could spiral out of control
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