Ex-MPs Set For Million-Pound "Golden Goodbyes"

Scotland's losing MPs are entitled to £1.2million in pensions and more than double that to pay off staff.

It comes after 43 lost at the general election are entitled to up to half a year's salary, including Thomas Docherty - the only Fife MP who sought re-election.

According to parliament rules, a losing MP can also claim a resettlement grant to adjust to life after Westminster, and can claim up to £2.7million to wind up their business and pay off staff.

Gordon Brown, Sir Menzies Campbell and Lindsay Roy are not entitled to the pay-offs because they retired.

There are 25 politicians in Scotland who'll receive the top amount - including Jim Murphy, Douglas Alexander and Danny Alexander.

Andy Sylvester from the Taxpayer's Alliance says it raises questions of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA):

An IPSA spokesman said: “Six years is the maximum, for which you would get six months’ pay.

“If you served six years or 26 years, that amount would be the same. It is not age-related, it is service-related and only for those who have been de-seated.”

“The MPs who have stood down are entitled to some support. They often have staff in constituencies who do work for them.

“There is a winding-up payment which is intended for office closure. They might need to terminate a rental agreement or pay staff for a couple months for an interim period before all their affairs are closed.

“This is to cover the period until early July and gives them enough time to get that done. Not everyone will require the full amount.”

“Payments have been cut back since 2010 and will be cut further before the next election. For the time being, the cap is set at six months.”