Monday 21 January 2008

Eck's Pension.


It was all going so well for Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond, but now he faces an immediate hit on his personal finances with the news that he may not receive his immediate £38,000 a year pension when he stands down as FM.

"HENRY McLeish and Jack McConnell will be laughing all the way to the bank. MSPs are set to axe one of the biggest perks of leaving Bute House: the £38,000-a-year pension enjoyed by former First Ministers from the moment they leave office. But McConnell and McLeish will continue to receive the money. The review of MSP pensions would apply to Alex Salmond and future First Ministers, who would get the cash only when they reached 65."

It made no sense for ex-FMs to get this perk, especially when like Jack McConnell they continue as Members of the Scottish Parliament, and even less in the case of Henry McLeish when he was only FM for twelve months before having to resign. But our Eck won't be laughing all the way to the bank if the change is agreed.

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