Good Morning Britain viewers have had their say after former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner accepted a staggering payout

Angela Rayner was dealt a major blow (Image: Getty)

Angela Rayner received an overwhelming amount of backlash after Good Morning Britain, viewers made their thoughts clear about the former Deputy Prime Minister accepting a £17,000 severance pay. In a poll shared on X/Twitter by the ITV programme, they asked: “New rules ban Government Minister payouts for ‘serious breaches’ – but Angela Rayner still received £17,000, with her team insisting the breach wasn’t ‘serious.’ Should ministers who quit the government get payouts?” This comes after Rayner was forced to resign after it was revealed that she avoided a £40,000 stamp duty bill on her seaside flat in Hove.

In a crushing blow to the former Home Secretary, 92.4% of viewers voted ‘no’ and disagreed that Rayner should have received the staggering payout. Taking to the comments with fury, one fumed: “Why should she get more money after fiddling the tax man?” As a second echoed: “The fact that her breach was actually illegal by any standards and directly impacted the revenue of the country, she didn’t deserve a penny. Abhorrent.”

New rules ban Government Minister payouts for ‘serious breaches’ – but Angela Rayner still received £17,000, with her team insisting the breach wasn’t ‘serious.’ Should ministers who quit the government get payouts?

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) October 16, 2025

“This is further evidence that MP’s look after themselves are in it for the money, to fill their pockets as much as possible before either getting sacked or unelected. They also bend the rules to suit themselves & expect Raynor to come back,” one raged.

Another viewer suggested: “Need to totally ban any payout for all government employees/MPs councillors etc ESPECIALLY if they get sacked or even resign!”

One furious viewer added: “All they go on about is the ‘Black Hole’ yet here they are handing out more money to their own while taking more from the rest of us!!!”

“Government are so deluded. General public get nothing so what so special about this bent Labour government,” said one.

Angela Rayner was forced to step down in September (Image: Getty)

Sir Laurie Magnus, the Prime Minister’s independent adviser on ministers’ interests, said she had breached the ministerial code because she failed to meet the “highest possible standards of proper conduct”.

All Cabinet ministers are entitled to a severance payout upon leaving office equivalent to a quarter of their annual ministerial salary.

Ms Rayner’s office has confirmed she received a payment of £16,876. Her spokesperson said: “There is a world of difference between making an honest mistake and a severe breach of the ministerial code.

“As the independent ethics adviser’s investigation concluded, Angela acted with integrity and an exemplary commitment to public service.”

When asked in September if she would accept the payment, Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, told Times Radio: “We have changed the rules on severance pay, which come into effect in October. This is a decision for Angela Rayner as opposed to the Prime Minister.”

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