http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politic ... s-MPs.html


I found the final comment rather amusing....

Yes I see what you mean

It does show that they also think that we are all plebs.

However, after the next election...

How ever with the party list system will it make any difference?

And do you think that they have understated what they want because of the state of the economy and think that they would not get it?

The radio piece that's playable on the blog post is interesting on this. They mostly don't actually talk about the numbers, they talk about how MPs hate having their pay discussed in public because they feel it's a no-win situation for them. The MP describes it as a 'taboo' subject and the survey that came up with these results was anonymous, the MP saying that if it hadn't have been nobody would have answered it.

It has to be said if their pay is something they that embarrassed about, well, you don't usually get embarrassed about taking too little of something, do you?

In all honesty, MPs get paid enough IMO. The pay should be linked to either public sector pay rate so if MP pay goes up, so does everyone elses in the public sector. If there are public sector pay freezes and below inflation rises, ditto for MPs. Alternatively, link it the minimum wage so pay only goes up when the minimum wage does.

It'll allow them to feel the pinch that everyone else in the public sector feels.

It would have to be in complete anonymity for them to be that honest. The real scandal starts once they leave office. Blair has made a fortune since leaving office.

I like the part where politicians talk about paying civil servants and other public sector workers less in the name of 'public service', and then bitch and moan about their whopping salary not being good enough.

When was the last time civil servants voted on their own pay rise?

A big +1 for linking MP's pay to the minimum wage and other civil servants pay rises. MP's seem to forget that they are civil servants as well.
MP's pay should be linked to the minimum wage with fixed multipliers for specific roles (e.g. MP, cabinet minister, chancellor, PM).



Probably the last time they voted on strike action over pay. The difference being that they don't necessarily get what they voted for.

I have thought that a link between minimum wage and MP's pay would solve the problems of what they get and when they get an increase. I do think that a maximum multiplier of twenty times minimum wage should be the top rate for PM and maybe 18 times for cabinet ministers. 15 times for all other MP's. Three times for any MP on suspension.

While we are at it link MP's accommodation to housing benefit, that way if they want a flash pad they pay for it themselves, especially since none of the buggers are up at dawn when workers are off to work.

I still think the most cost effective way to house MP's who have to travel from their constituencies would be to have a state owned hostel/hotel in London that they can all use for free. It's not like there's a shortage of government owned building in London and if it was close enough to Westminster they could walk or cycle to work. Would also technically be easier to ensure the safety of MP's.
Don't want to use it that's fine but you pay for alternative accommodation yourself.

My ex was involved in rewriting legislation for Maryland and she told me that there they basically provide accommodation and it is a take it or leave it option. No expenses for elsewhere are tolerated. They also plan all state get togethers in such a way that they minimise the time away from home to minimise the costs. Getting them altogether might be safer though it might be ignored because they want their luxuries. Another alternative would be pods like this. Much cheaper to use and maintain.