MP's - snouts in the trough again?

[WendyS]

What do you think about our MP's sitting in their comfortable parliament building and campaigning for a pay increase to take them to �100,000 p.a. when our troops in Afghanistan are under bombardment daily and are being denied the extra �3000 allowance they were promised. And they wonder why the British public hold politicians in such contempt.?

[jake-the-peg]

I think it's worth pointing out that this extra �3,000 was a mistake from civil servants at the MOD with regards to marines pay. And the that all troops fighting in war zones had already been given a �2,240 tax free bonus

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/arti cle1834343.ece


Personally I'd be fine with MPs getting the rise *IF* they become full time professionals and give up all the perks and side lines and directorships that have caused so much trouble and conflict of interest.

�100,00 is probably fair for a full time MP - for one who wanders in after a morning persuing personal business interests it's a total liberty

[crete]

we dont have politicians now we have celebrities, ask why people dont vote, ?

[anotheoldgit]

Each one of us has the power in our hands, to make anyone of them redundant, especially those who do not earn their keep, just take the trouble to turn out and vote them out at the next election.

[Marky B]

I think we need a total reform of the House of Commons. I am not bothered about the regality of the State Opening of Parliament,it brings the crowds,but why do we need a Scots Parliament and a Welsh Assembly? Then if we abolish them,why do we need over 600 MP's in the Commons for this tiny island.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[LazyGun]

I agree with markey with respect to the number of MPs we have.... the USA, with around 5x our population has about 100 or so less congressional representatives... so why exactly do we need 650 or whatever it is?

Not sure I want professional full time MPs in the house though.. At least if they have some involvement with business, the NHS, Law etc they get some first hand experience of the laws they themselves have passed... if they went full time professional you would just get spotty ambitious oiks straight out of college populating the chamber, with little or no life experience and they would be even further out of touch with the rest of us.

I really do not see why they need any extra money at all.

[Bazile]

anotheoldgit

What makes you think that the replacement for the one's voted out are going to be any better .
What MP is going to refuse a pay rise - whatever their political colour ?

[WendyS]

Well, I seem to remember watching David Cameron in a speech a few months ago saying that MP's should never again be allowed to vote on issues relating to their own pay.

I'll be watching with interest to see what line he and Conservative MP's take on this issue now.

[anotheoldgit]

Bazile obviously no one knows if any new politicians voted in would be any better at the job. Just as no employer knows whether or not a new employee is up to their job, until he or she has been given a chance. We can always sack them again after 5 years.