THERE were howls of indignation from a group of Labour MPs when it emerged that government ministers stand to gain a bonus of £4,000 in their severence pay if the Tories lose the election.

The golden handshake bonus would be paid under a technicality which means they would continue in office for a few hours after polling day.

Although Labour MPs have called on ministers to forego the bonus, there is little sign so far of this happening.

Politicians are, on the whole, a pretty thick-skinned lot. But it seems hard-nosed, even by their standards, for the ministers not to stand up and waive the bonus when they are continually preaching that pay restraint has to be the order of the day. Gordon Brown has made it clear that if Labour form the next government the increased severance payments will not be allowed to go through, even though it could require retrospective legislation.

He is right. The very thought of ministers each receiving a £4,000 bonus because they are likely to continue in office for a few hours after polling day will infuriate everyone negotiating a pay increase. Many of them will be lucky to receive more than a few pence above inflation rate.

Ministers should do the decent thing and make it clear now that, if they are voted out of office, they will not claim the £4,000 bonus which would only come their way because of an absurd technicality.

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