[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.

[Steven]

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.

[KhalJimbo]

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.

[loz]

Originally Posted by sniffer66

Are those figures Gross or Net ?

All MP's figures are gross. Especially those wearing fishnet's

[whiskyboozer]

I earn more, but dont take the **** with my expenses.

[loz]

Originally Posted by GasDad

Gross.

I understood it was net. (i.e. after tax)

What's a typical person's weekly income in the UK? About £390 after tax and benefits, adjusted for household income*. That's for a two-adult household without children. How did I get the figure - it's the median average, which is a technical way of saying it's roughly the figure in the middle of all incomes.

and that is what the graph shows, the average person on £390

[namuk]

They should be all paid 22k a year and All given a bus pass, with them banging on about environment all the time and the money is to bring them into the real world ...

[domtheone]

I wouldn't give a about MP's wages if they actually represented us, the people and listened now and again and tried to do something about the issues that matter to most.

[whiskyboozer]

Originally Posted by domtheone

I wouldn't give a about MP's wages if they actually represented us, the people and listened now and again and tried to do something about the issues that matter to most.

Well said

[Miyazaki]

Originally Posted by GasDad

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.

I wouldn't really call sitting on your arse answering the 2 or 3 calls your receptionist doesn't screen, towing the party line at committees eating chocolate digestives, and writing a few letters "work".

[Miyazaki]

Originally Posted by namuk

They should be all paid 22k a year and All given a bus pass, with them banging on about environment all the time and the money is to bring them into the real world ...

I think that is generous.

Let them work their way up from minimum wage.

There is far too much incentive for the career politicians out there for an easy life.

All those secretaries of this and secretaries of that who have no idea what goes on in the real world, have no qualifications in the area they are supposed to represent, making decisions that affect those who have dedicated their life to a profession, whilst often ignoring advice on the subject!

[Miyazaki]

Originally Posted by CJPowers81

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.

If I count the amount of time I sit behind a PC, on the phone or eating chocolate digestives, I reckon I must work about 120 hours a week.

[namuk]

Originally Posted by Miyazaki

I think that is generous.

Let them work their way up from minimum wage.

There is far too much incentive for the career politicians out there for an easy life.

All those secretaries of this and secretaries of that who have no idea what goes on in the real world, have no qualifications in the area they are supposed to represent, making decisions that affect those who have dedicated their life to a profession, whilst often ignoring advice on the subject!

Agreed.. that Is a better way indeed.. They bang on Tax on everything and Do not pay it there selfs

even bigger one that winds me, is the Pay off the ones that are going I mean there all well off Before this ..

[Mr Noble]

Just under £31,000 a year not bad for a 20 year old

They are MP and we are typical persons so that's the main difference of having differences in salary and expenses too

[rickinyorkshire]

Originally Posted by H3AD_SH0TZ

Just under £31,000 a year not bad for a 20 year old

Well done.

[dazza74]

I haven't made any money in two years with my business so anyone's better of than me currently good job I don't own a gun

[Mr Noble]

Originally Posted by rickinyorkshire

Well done.

it seem's a lot but isn't ... i do pay tax you know ... unlike them MP's