MPs shouldn't receive a wage...

KingstonSeagull · Jul 12, 2013

MPs should not paid wages but loans, like students, because they get highly paid jobs after they graduate from Westminster as a result of attending Parliament. They should therefore pay back the loan they got while in office. :moo:

Commander · Jul 12, 2013

ok mate

Brian Fantana · Jul 12, 2013

KingstonSeagull said:
MPs should not paid wages but loans, like students, because they get highly paid jobs after they graduate from Westminster as a result of attending Parliament. They should therefore pay back the loan they got while in office.

That's a terrible idea.

Gullflyinghigh · Jul 12, 2013

Fishing for a frothy mouthed response surely?

El Sid · Jul 12, 2013

Would the loan be interest free?

KingstonSeagull · Jul 12, 2013

At the rate of inflation i'd say...

The Birdman · Jul 12, 2013

I would pay them more and have less off them and they should not have other jobs while serving the public. The wage should cover all expenses so no opportunity to fiddle . We need to trust our politicians otherwise we might as well give up and have a dictatorship style of government and have no elections. :nono:

teaboy · Jul 12, 2013

The Birdman said:
I would pay them more and have less off them and they should not have other jobs while serving the public. The wage should cover all expenses so no opportunity to fiddle . We need to trust our politicians otherwise we might as well give up and have a dictatorship style of government and have no elections.

Democracy doesn't necessarily bring trustworthy, good government. Dictatorships are not necessarily bad governments.

KingstonSeagull · Jul 12, 2013

I don't trust my MP as far as I could throw them.. They are all as bent as an nine bob note...

Diego Napier · Jul 12, 2013

teaboy said:
Democracy doesn't necessarily bring trustworthy, good government. Dictatorships are not necessarily bad governments.

True but in a democracy you do get the opportunity to get rid of those that aren't.

I don't think there have been many benign dictators.

gazingdown · Jul 12, 2013

They don't ALL get high paid jobs after leaving politics. Some also spend a long time in politics, after which they may not be able to re-continue their previous career.

It should be an honourable thing to do (of course that's not to say all the individuals are as such!) and be rewarded as such. There are many that do a fine job, however most we would never hear about as the news only really reports on the famous/front-benchers and shadow cabinet or those causing controversy.

What you do NOT want to do is make it less attractive to try being an MP, otherwise you only end up with those rich enough to afford it or those too poor that it's a better option than they had previously. This ends up with no-one representing the middle ground (which includes the vast majority of the electorate). Arguably, is the middle ground MPs that often are the best to have. If, for one, don't want to end up with a house of commons filled with militant poor left wingers and rich toffs, that's NOT representative which is what the HoC should be all about (which is why it's called the house of COMMONS).

Politically, it's never a "right" time to give MPs pay rises, however they should implement this independent body's recommendations (which is why it was setup so MPs don't give themselves any old rise, the separate body determines the pay) and hopefully the issue can be done with.

I think the larger issue is silly pays and pay offs for other public sector employees - there are plenty on MANY times more pay than MPs are and if sacked still get massive pay offs etc.

And also, oh, I can't be arsed, it's Friday.....

El Sid · Jul 12, 2013

KingstonSeagull said:
I don't trust my MP as far as I could throw them.. They are all as bent as an nine bob note...

Yes, unpaid volunteers would be a better alternative. The Duke of Edinburgh scheme could be a good starting point.

Norman Potting · Jul 12, 2013

KingstonSeagull said:
MPs should not paid wages but loans, like students, because they get highly paid jobs after they graduate from Westminster as a result of attending Parliament. They should therefore pay back the loan they got while in office.

I believe Enoch Powell took this view as well. I make no comment, will be back this evening to view the binfest.

http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/7482703/parliament-shouldnt-pay/

DavidinSouthampton · Jul 12, 2013

KingstonSeagull said:
MPs should not paid wages but loans, like students, because they get highly paid jobs after they graduate from Westminster as a result of attending Parliament. They should therefore pay back the loan they got while in office.

Silly Idea. For a start, not all MP's do go on to have highly paid jobs afterwards, and some may choose not to, being interested in doing something useful in life rather than just "making money". And our politics would be all the poorer if such people were excluded.

KingstonSeagull · Jul 12, 2013

DavidinSouthampton said:
Silly Idea. For a start, not all MP's do go on to have highly paid jobs afterwards, and some may choose not to, being interested in doing something useful in life rather than just "making money". And our politics would be all the poorer if such people were excluded.

Then in that case they are given accommodation like halls of residence but nicer and be fed and given an allowance for holidays and such like... starting to sound a lot like communism... It's not communism, Communism is gash...

teaboy · Jul 12, 2013

Diego Napier said:
True but in a democracy you do get the opportunity to get rid of those that aren't.

I don't think there have been many benign dictators.

Not under our current system. There are constituencies that are too 'safe' for whichever party. You also get to choose between a small group of people decided by their party which may give no real choice at all. And when 70% of people choose not to vote their voice counts for nothing - there's no way to actually say 'none of the above' or 'abstain' without being lumped in with the apathetic.

Was Thatcher trustworthy? Was Blair trustworthy? Did the country get rid of either, or get to choose their immediate replacement as PM?

gazingdown · Jul 12, 2013

teaboy said:
Not under our current system. There are constituencies that are too 'safe' for whichever party. You also get to choose between a small group of people decided by their party which may give no real choice at all. And when 70% of people choose not to vote their voice counts for nothing - there's no way to actually say 'none of the above' or 'abstain' without being lumped in with the apathetic.

If people don't like the candidate that a given party (that they might vote for) put up, then join that party and campaign for a better candidate.

Many people complain (sometimes quite "vigorously") but seem to stop short when actually doing something about it. Martin Bell DID do this (ousted a safe seater), so can others either by standing as an MP or joining a given party and trying to influence that way.

teaboy · Jul 12, 2013

gazingdown said:
If people don't like the candidate that a given party (that they might vote for) put up, then join that party and campaign for a better candidate.

Many people complain (sometimes quite "vigorously") but seem to stop short when actually doing something about it. Martin Bell DID do this (ousted a safe seater), so can others either by standing as an MP or joining a given party and trying to influence that way.

And does lead to 'better' government? I was unaware that Martin Bell was in government. I know he was an MP, but I don't think any independent has ever been in government...

dougdeep · Jul 12, 2013

Why not just ban poor people from standing? Crazy idea.

KingstonSeagull · Jul 12, 2013

dougdeep said:
Why not just ban poor people from standing? Crazy idea.

This could work...

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