FATCAT MPs at yet again !!!!

[olddutch]

Why when Pensioners, Soldiers, Nurses, Railway workers, Public sector workers, essential service workers and nearly all other " ordinary" workers are either instructed or exhorted by the Government not to be awarded pay rises above inflation do many MPs think they are more important than other groups of workers - so important in fact that they think that they deserve a pay rise of around 60-70% - unbelievable !!!. Isnt this the height of hypocrisy and greed from MPs who already get paid more than enough and also have huge expense accounts. Why dont these MPs suggest INSTEAD that pensioners get 60 - 70 % pension increases and let the pensioners have a binding vote (like the MPs do) on their own level of income ! What has actually changed in these MPs duties since the previous review that these MPs think they are deserving of such a huge or any other above inflation level increase? These are same the MPs that are wasting our taxes on unnecessary wars,Domes,Updating Nuclear deterrants (after signing up to non proliferation), their own inflated pension packages and so much more. The usual Hypocritical Elite Fatcatism!! Some things will never change!

[Kathyan]

I agree olddutch. As the Governments 'employers' we should decide what (if any!) rise in salary they get. I hate the 'do as I say, not as I do' way this Government treats us. I have been a Labour supporter for years, but this Government have really changed my views. Problem is, it doesn't matter who gets 'in' they always line their own pockets first!

[jake-the-peg]

If they want that money they should get it but *only* in return for a renegotiation of their terms and conditions.

Let them become proper professionals - no more wandering in at lunchtime after persuing a morning of board meetings and other business interests!

This sounds like an ideal opportunity to clean up the "members interests".

And if a few of them felt they'd rather serve the arms companies or the tobacco firms for whom they are also "consultants" then at least we'd find out where their loyalties really lie

[Scylax]

Politics - the only profession for which one needs no
training or qualifications.
'Fraid it's a case of: 'I'm alright, Jack' ,as they jostle at
the trough of public money. It beats me why folks keep
voting for them - any of them.

[WendyS]

Whilst I agree with olddutch about MP's pay, I must raise my head above the parapet here and remind him that the public sector workers who he includes in his "hard done by" list, are in fact one of the main reasons why all our Council Tax bills are so high. They are the biggest employment sector in the country and their index linked pensions (which have to be funded by our council tax payments) are a bill the population of this country unfortunately cannot continue to pay indefinitely. Sooner or later, public sector pension reform will have to take place and public sector employees will have to self- fund their pensions through money purchase schemes like the majority of the population. If this doesn't happen, we will all see our Council Tax Bills continue to spiral out of control. and beyond our ability to pay them. This is is a much bigger cost issue than MP's pay and pensions. There are only 600 of them. How many million public sector employees are there?

[flip-flop]

Hear hear WendyS - there MUST be widespread reform of public sector pensions: why must those of us in the private sector see our pensions dwindle, lose final salary, see Comrade Brown steal (it is a rose by any other name) our money when those in the public sector enjoy copper-bottomed pensions.

Now the cynic in me might suggest that public sector pensions haven't been tampered with because the majority of those who bother to vote and are employed in the public sector generally vote Labour.

Also agree with Jake - if they want a swingeing increase make them 'professional' MPs - no slipping off to their Inns, or their part-time board positions, or their consultancy jobs etc... Let's not forget that these people on average also receive over �130k in expenses, most of which involves 'employing' members of their families in secretarial/reserach roles: in other words, they trouser it.

Christ I've turned in to a cynical old b4stard.