[Politics] MPS to get £2,000 pay rise.

[JJ McClure]

Thank you.

Don’t forget MPs get a food allowance, travel expenses and a subsidised bar, as well as their basic wages. Of course, some have taken the mickey claiming for a duck house, heating for their stables, and even for a poppy to wear in November. Their expenses claims can be more than their actual wages per annum.

When was the expenses scandal, 14 or 5 years ago? Not sure things are the same now. Also wasn't it that very scandal that led to the creation of the independent body that now awards the pay rises?

 

[beorhthelm]

When was the expenses scandal, 14 or 5 years ago? Not sure things are the same now. Also wasn't it that very scandal that led to the creation of the independent body that now awards the pay rises?

it came after that. my recollection is the pay used to be voted on by MPs and for years they wouldnt vote for a rise, or occasional small ones, because of political sensitivity. so they shifted decision on pay to the Parliamentry Standards Comittee, out of MPs hands. this is still politically sensitive because it makes for a bold headline, but they can say its not their doing.

they're probably paid sufficiently, comparable to other nearby countries of similar size. and with that comes intermittent rises. this one looks like covers 2 years, and therefore less % overall than pretty much every public sector group.

 

[London Irish]

Well if it isn’t the consequence of how people voted in 2019, you give power to privileged elitists, what do you expect

 

[Medwayseagull]

I bet Edward Leigh is first in the queue to grab the extra dosh after protecting his constituents from Ukrainian refugees.

 

[Bozza]

Well if it isn’t the consequence of how people voted in 2019, you give power to privileged elitists, what do you expect

I'm not sure privileged elitists would get out of bed for £84k, and another £2k here and there really isn't going to make any difference.

The privileged elitists won't be in the job for the meagre salary, by privileged elitists standards, surely? Their raison d'être will be to fiddle the game in the favour of other privileged elitists, which commands far greater wealth than the salary of a mid-level manager in a large corporate.

 

[GT49er]

Yes, like most other people in this country I'd love to have £82K a year (less tax) filling up my bank account, but maybe I'm just getting cynical in my own age, or maybe because there are far more serious things going on to worry about, I just can't manage to raise any level of outrage about this.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

When was the expenses scandal, 14 or 5 years ago? Not sure things are the same now. Also wasn't it that very scandal that led to the creation of the independent body that now awards the pay rises?

Things did improve but haven't stopped. Nadine Dorries was criticised for employing her daughters from public funds, up to £80K whilst she was pointing the finger at the BBC for nepotism. She became an MP in 2005.

https://www.indy100.com/politics/nadine-dorries-bbc-nepotism-daughters-b1932514

 

[The Clamp]

I'm not sure privileged elitists would get out of bed for £84k, and another £2k here and there really isn't going to make any difference.

The privileged elitists won't be in the job for the meagre salary, by privileged elitists standards, surely? Their raison d'être will be to fiddle the game in the favour of other privileged elitists, which commands far greater wealth than the salary of a mid-level manager in a large corporate.

Makes sense.

 

[Commander]

I'm also of the opinion that the position of an MP is underpaid (which is different from saying the current MPs are underpaid).

If you want to attract high calibre people to the position, the compensation needs to be reflective of that and, whilst recognising that £84k is by most measures a very decent salary, in many industries it most certainly is not.

Some people complain about the quality and, in some cases, the integrity of our elected officials. Pay peanuts, get monkeys and all that.

Totally agree, and I've thought this for a while. Working as an MP, with all the stress and hassle that goes with it, is really not a nice job. You'd get hassled everywhere you go. I could handle that as a footballer on £200K a week (although it would still be annoying), but why would any of our best and brightest want to do it for £84K a year? It's a great salary but it's not megabucks by any stretch of the imagination, especially if you have a couple of kids and are the only earner in the family. That's a 3-bed semi and kids at state school in the South East. Hardly a lavish lifestyle.

People who are really smart, talented and brilliant leaders can earn double or treble that in the private sector without that much difficulty, and with a hell of a lot less of the hassle. So why on Earth would they go in to politics?

The pay scale for MPs means you get either average quality, or multi-millionaires who don't need the money and haven't lived in the real world, neither which are conducive to being good at the job.

I'm sure people we'll say "I've never earnt anything like that kind of money, I work really hard and would easily do that job for that much". Fine- go and do it then.

I might start a petition to pay our MPs more, I'm sure it would do well...

To be absolutely clear, I'm not suggesting we should want to pay our current MPs more, I'm suggesting we should make it a much more attractive career and encourage far better people into doing it, and that means higher salaries and better benefits.

 

[Javeaseagull]

I would double their salary and halve their numbers. Why we have more legislators than USA has always baffled me. Jobs for the boys.

 

[Swansman]

Such a good job. Make a lot of money, no need for education, no consequences to lying or ****ing up in general. And they drink wine at work meetings.... that alone makes it worth it.

 

[The Clamp]

Their pay should be based on performance

Have they kept employment up to a reasonable level in their area?
Have they kept food poverty to a minimum?
How are the schools performing?
Are they addressing their constituent’s issues effectively?
What are the state of the roads?
Is the council housing adequate and of a good standard?
How are their hospitals performing?
Is homelessness an issue?
Are people able to afford their rents?
Is the area attracting business?

That should go some way to ensuring we get MP’s who wish to do the job and are not just after a place at the trough.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Yes, like most other people in this country I'd love to have £82K a year (less tax) filling up my bank account, but maybe I'm just getting cynical in my own age, or maybe because there are far more serious things going on to worry about, I just can't manage to raise any level of outrage about this.

The hypocrisy is from removing welfare from the poorest in society because they might spend it on Netflix or a tv, and refusing to fund free school meals for the poorest children. Refusing to remove VAT from energy bills despite a promise to do so.

The economy works better when the working class has money to spend after paying for basics like food, rent/mortgage and energy.
Trickle down economics we were told.

This is how it is working in reality.

 

[GT49er]

The hypocrisy is from removing welfare from the poorest in society because they might spend it on Netflix or a tv, and refusing to fund free school meals for the poorest children. Refusing to remove VAT from energy bills despite a promise to do so.

The economy works better when the working class has money to spend after paying for basics like food, rent/mortgage and energy.
Trickle down economics we were told.

This is how it is working in reality.

View attachment 145643

Yes, I know that. For one or both of the reasons I stated I still remain un-outraged.

 

[Swansman]

Their pay should be based on performance

Have they kept employment up to a reasonable level in their area?
Have they kept food poverty to a minimum?
How are the schools performing?
Are they addressing their constituent’s issues effectively?
What are the state of the roads?
Is the council housing adequate and of a good standard?
How are their hospitals performing?
Is homelessness an issue?
Are people able to afford their rents?
Is the area attracting business?

That should go some way to ensuring we get MP’s who wish to do the job and are not just after a place at the trough.

So politicians in poor areas should make a lot less than those in affluent areas?

 

[Bold Seagull]

I'm a bit conflicted on MPs pay. They are public servants getting a rise while many others don't, but many others have secure employment whereas an MP generally has 5 years, then out of the job potentially. If you want the best people you can find to run the country, giving up their full time careers to become MPs, to go through a whole raft of selection processes to even get to contest a seat, then the campaigning itself - it is not the most attractive proposition to many talented people who may make great MPs.

It's why we end up with a high portion millionaires with trust funds behind them as they don't actually need the money, just the power. Those with real talent know they can secure roles in commercial business that will outstrip what they'll get as an MP without all the public campaigning and engagement required etc. and after all that potentially losing.

The counter to that is many sit in 'safe' seats, barely needing to campaign at all, or seemingly needing to do much enjoying a very cushy role. Hence I'm often torn on the subject.

 

[Machiavelli]

I'm a bit conflicted on MPs pay. They are public servants getting a rise while many others don't, but many others have secure employment whereas an MP generally has 5 years, then out of the job potentially. If you want the best people you can find to run the country, giving up their full time careers to become MPs, to go through a whole raft of selection processes to even get to contest a seat, then the campaigning itself - it is not the most attractive proposition to many talented people who may make great MPs.

It's why we end up with a high portion millionaires with trust funds behind them as they don't actually need the money, just the power. Those with real talent know they can secure roles in commercial business that will outstrip what they'll get as an MP without all the public campaigning and engagement required etc. and after all that potentially losing.

The counter to that is many sit in 'safe' seats, barely needing to campaign at all, or seemingly needing to do much enjoying a very cushy role. Hence I'm often torn on the subject.

This. UK MPs' renumeration is below comparative countries standards. They have a tough job to do with long hours. It's things like the revolving doors and cash for access that are the outrage, not their pay.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Personally I don't believe we should be attempting to compete with private sector salaries which they could otherwise earn.

The decent MP's work around 80 hours per week. Their salary seems about fair to me.

The not decent MP's .... well we need to take a bit more responsibility for who we elect

 

[happypig]

Pay them more but ban them from having second jobs. Expenses independently scrutinised and authorised.
MPs who break rules can, ultimately, be removed from office by the Parliamentary Standards Office.

 

[The Clamp]

So politicians in poor areas should make a lot less than those in affluent areas?

No. It would be relative to the area and based on improvement, not a catch-all set of standards.

Think things through will you, please.