Feeling the pain - the people and their MPs

[fenultimate]

Here we have a strange contrast.
On the one hand the Bank of England and Alistair Darling telling us that pay will not keep pace with inflation and we should just tighten our belts and get on with it.
Then there is a recommendation that MPs take a rise of �40,000+ a year but be prepared to give up their claims for expenses relating to second homes. The �40,000+ represents the maximum permitted claim for such alleged outgoings. A very nice pay rise for those who do not, or cannot claim that maximum. Opinions?

[Theland]

If you're in charge of doling out the soup, you're going to make sure that your bowl is the one with the meat in it.

That's where we need more checks and balances.

[fenultimate]

I agree, but checks and balances are what we do not have. Who will vote on this report? Whose vote will have any weight?

[dancunian]

Cynicism aside, genuinely independent reviews into MP pay always conclude that MPs are underpaid.

Expenses have always been used to cover all the other bases as a result.

The reality is of course, most MPs traditionally shy away from voting their own pay rise because of the political backlash.

MP pay is an easy target. Perhaps it should be linked to other high-profile public sector workers:

The Cheif exec of my local Council (unelected) takes home �100k.

My MP (elected) takes home �63k.

So make of that what you will I suppose.