Sir Nick Clegg, the former Deputy Prime Minister, has reportedly claimed almost £115,000 from an expenses allowance previously only granted to former Prime Ministers.
The former leader of the Liberal Democrats was given access to the public duty cost allowance after he lost his seat in parliament.
The allowance provides for the office and secretarial costs for former premiers.
Sir Nick served as Deputy Prime Minister to David Cameron’s Conservative Government from 2010-2015. He has since become a vociferous critic of Brexit and has urged the country to hold a second referendum when the terms and conditions of Britain leaving the EU are known.
Sir Nick received a knighthood in the New Year’s honours list.
A recommendation to give him a reduced rate under the allowance was ignored, according to an internal memo released under freedom of information laws and reported by The Sunday Times.
In the memo, Sue Gray, the director general of the propriety and ethics team at the Cabinet Office, recommended his allowance was “set at a lower level” because of the “difference in roles and responsibilities between the PM and DPM.”
A spokesperson for the Cabinet Office told the Sunday paper: “The public duty cost allowance was introduced to assist former prime ministers, still active in public life. It was extended to the former deputy prime minister for five years.”
A spokesman for Sir Nick said: “The money he receives is spent entirely in line with its stipulated purpose — to provide administrative and operational support to a former deputy prime minister.
“Not a penny goes to Sir Nick personally.”
