How does your pay compare with an MP?

[loz]

I thought this was quite interesting.

BBC NEWS | Magazine | How does your pay compare with an MP's?

On salary alone, the MP's household is above about 91% of the population - 55 million individuals. About 9% have household incomes higher than this.

And lump them both together (salary and expenses) - our honourable member sits above about 96% of the population - 58 million individuals. A working partner would push them higher still.

How much should MP's be paid?

Should they all be paid as much as doctors, lawyers, captains of industry? More? or less?

If they are the sort of people we want as politicians, then we ought to be willin to pay them similar.

If we don't pay enough, we won't attract good people, or it will be the preserve of the wealthy.
But pay too much and people go into it just for the money, not because they want to serve the public.

[LFC_SL]

And remember some of them are lawyers as well - its all money for those kind of people

Disgusting

[smallclanger]

I don't know why we can't have official lodgings for MPs when in London, maybe they only need to qualify if their constituency is a certain distance away but each MP gets simple living accommodation and some office space, then no need to claim expenses for those things or be out of pocket.

[Earthworm Jim]

I somehow dont think people are going to go start posting there earnings on here

[davepuma]

Presumably this has come about because of the expenses saga? Well, I'm sorry but they entered the profession knowing the pay and shouldn't have to swindle the tax payer with ludicrous expenses claims to top it up. Half of them are complete idiots and to be brutally honest, we have too many politicians anyway, so if some leave the profession to earn a buck elsewhere, so be it. They're the same as the bankers that have got the country/world into this mess, they think they're better than they are and better than the rest of us. Time to wise up, you aint. By the looks of it, they're never in their constituencies, they're too busy living it up in 2nd/3rd homes with swimming pools working out how they can claim more money off us.

[Iccz]

I can safely say I earn less than a MP

[loz]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

And remember some of them are lawyers as well - its all money for those kind of people

Actually, that is a good point, and something not taken into account in those BBC figures. So many of them will be earning much more than that.

There are good arguements for allowing MPs to have 2nd jobs, as otherwise they just become full time politicians and really do loose touch with reality.

However, they ought to be only allowed to have average pay 2nd jobs, so they really do keep in touch with normal people.

I would like to see my local MPstacking shelves in Tesco for example.

Hang on, he might be doing that now he has been found out...

[Iccz]

Originally Posted by loz

I would like to see my local MPstacking shelves in Tesco for example.

Hang on, he might be doing that now he has been found out...

The local MP here has been getting praise about the whole expenses thing:
MPs' expenses: The saints (Part iii) - Telegraph

[GasDad]

What a stupid article.

The majority of MP's claim around 80K a year expenses for office staff and space, and another 20-40k a year for travel.

Presumably we'd all like our MP's to have someone to answer the phone, and research stuff for our fellow constituents. And presumably we'd all like our MP's to attend the House of Commons and still make it back for Surgery at least once a week.

So they need expenses - but that is not the same as income.

Note that all the stuff in the press is (with a couple of exceptions) related to claims against their second homes allowance. Solve that problem (Olympic village ?) and it ceases to be an issue.

[mushk1n]

I thought they got paid more than that... not as big deal as I thought it was. meh.

[sniffer66]

Are those figures Gross or Net ?

[Miyazaki]

Originally Posted by loz

I thought this was quite interesting.

BBC NEWS | Magazine | How does your pay compare with an MP's?



How much should MP's be paid?

Should they all be paid as much as doctors, lawyers, captains of industry? More? or less?

If they are the sort of people we want as politicians, then we ought to be willin to pay them similar.

If we don't pay enough, we won't attract good people, or it will be the preserve of the wealthy.
But pay too much and people go into it just for the money, not because they want to serve the public.

I don't really agree with a lot of that.

I think an MPs salary should compare to any other public servant, and they certainly shouldn't be able to vote themselves pay rises whilst the rest of the public sector get pay cuts.

If an MP is no good they get booted out at a local or general election and someone who people think can do the job better gets in, ad nauseum.

Maybe the PM and/or his cabinet should get salaries and do get salaries comparable to doctors or lawyers, but what, in all honesty, do the backbenchers actually do?

I mean apart from monotonous jeering and paper waving every time a member of the opposition makes a comment in the house.

[GasDad]

Originally Posted by Miyazaki

but what, in all honesty, do the backbenchers actually do?

I mean apart from monotonous jeering and paper waving every time a member of the opposition makes a comment in the house.

Err sit on committees, raise questions for constituents, hold surgeries, respond to letters etc (which is why the have a staff and office space, both in London and in their constituency).

You really need to watch the parliament channel, and see some of the multitude of committees at work, to understand where the real work gets done.


A poor MP will work 50-60hours a week - a good one 70-80.

Sure they belong to one of the most exclusive clubs in the world, with fantastic pension rights etc - but it is a difficult job - more so once you become a minister however junior.

[GasDad]

Originally Posted by sniffer66

Are those figures Gross or Net ?

Gross.

[CJPowers81]

Originally Posted by GasDad

A poor MP will work 50-60hours a week - a good one 70-80.

No wonder they're a bunch of miserable *******s working those hours

If truth be hold, I ain't got much time for 'em, money grabbing parasites.