Analysis by Express.co.uk has shown ministers’ pay over the nine-week period of the Conservative Party leadership contest will rise to £912,149. At the same time, a new poll for this website shows Britons want MPs and ministers to hold back on their pay given the cost of living that cripples the country.
The huge cost in ministerial salaries for interim ministers comes after Johnson pledged to remain in office for the duration of the campaign to find his successor, but pledged not to introduce new policies.
The government has also postponed some votes in the House of Commons.
The online security law, which was due to be voted on in parliament next week, will now only return in the autumn.
Kemi Badenoch, one of the contenders still in the running to replace Mr Johnson, has already warned she does not support the bill, saying it is “incapable of becoming law”.
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Taxpayers are still billed for ministerial salaries, despite the freeze on much of government activity.
Sarah Olney MP, Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson, told Express.co.uk: “The zombie government of Boris Johnson is making fun of taxpayers while doing nothing to solve the problems facing our country.
“They are content to milk the treasury and cash in at a time when families can’t even afford to put food on the table and fuel in their cars.
“If they keep taking our money, the least they can do is focus on the job and do something to help those who are struggling.”
Earlier this week, the interim chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Kit Malthouse, is said to have warned colleagues to focus on their duties and not be distracted by the Tory leadership contest.
According to The Times, he threatened to put entire policy areas under “special measures” if ministers did not focus on voters’ priorities in the final weeks of Mr Johnson’s administration.
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A government spokesman said ministers remained at their posts over the summer to “respond to events”.
They added: “Essentially, the government will focus on executing pre-agreed policies, delivering on manifesto commitments, it will not attempt to make major budgetary changes, nor will it attempt to loosen previously agreed policies. to make.”
Candidates scrambling to become the next prime minister in the Conservative leadership election have all pitched how they would help deal with the current cost of living.
Energy bills are skyrocketing, inflation will hit 11 percent by the end of 2022, and the tax burden will hit its highest rate in 70 years.
Economists have warned that the economic crisis will not end until 2024.
While contenders to take part in issue 10 have all talked about what they would do to help Britons across the country, none have talked about pay cuts among politicians.
An exclusive TechneUK survey of 1,644 adults conducted for Express.co.uk on 7 July found 60 per cent believe that a wage freeze should be imposed on MPs and government ministers until the economy stabilizes again.
Only 31 percent disagreed, while nine percent said they did not know.