Is this really a problem ?

[youngmafbog]

http://news.sky.com/story/1015421/foreign-freebies-mps-criticised-over-trips

It's not paid for by the tax payers and often needs to be done so is it really a big deal ?

[rojash]

Yes it is, because they are paid to represent their constituents. If someone else is paying fro their treats, that's a pretty good incentive for them to represent the interests of their alternative paymasters instead.

[emmie]

but what if those businesses have an agenda, and they should be getting the country straight before jetting off on a junket.

[LazyGun]

You have to question why foreign governments, private companies and/or individual donors are paying for such trips. They will have an agenda of their own that they are attempting to further, and the danger is that the views of the MPs who are receipt of such largesse will be unduly compromised or biased, which in turn may affect government policy.

I am not however saying that they should necessarily be banned, but that all such visits are declared in the register of MPs interests, and that a declaration of competing interests be interests be made any time they become involved in debates or committees or government reports.

[pdq1]

Only ministers should travel the world and then only when it benefits the role in that department. Ordinary MPs should man the ship and work for their constituents at home.

[sandyRoe]

Does anyone remember the name of the Tory MP who seemed to represent the tobacco industry? One man can't serve two guvnors. Either he represents his constituents or the big tobacco companies.

[LazyGun]

I hate having to defend MPs, but - Ministers are the ones that should be staying at home running the country. They should only be travelling away when it is clearly in the furtherance of their ministerial obligations.

Being an MP is about more than being a representative for the constituency who elected you. That is a significant part of the job, but much of the work of the House of Commons is done by Select Committees, who scrutinise issues and examine and test legislation. These are staffed by backbench MPs. MPs are also expected to vote on various issues put before the house, so although one might expect them to vote with their party, it is also important that they have spent time and energy understanding issues which will have an impact on their own constituency.

All of that notwithstanding, trips abroad should not just be seen as a perk, a freebie for the elite ruling class, nor should they be allowed to participate in such things without declaring they have and declaring an interest in any subsequent committee they serve on or report they author.

[pdq1]

I believe Ken Clarke is connected with the tobacco industry and is often seen with a cigar sticking out of his mouth.

[modeller]

I believe Ken Clarke is a director of Imperial Tobacco.