Pay politicians ???

Politicians and Money!

It was once said to me that the USA had the best politicians money could buy! It took me 4 seconds to work out just what the speaker meant by that.

The thorny issue of UK Parliamentarians raised it's well fed and pampered face in the media this week. An independent body was set up to decide the pay and benefits of MP's to the Westminster parliament. It was in the wake of a national scandal where it emerged that a number of elected officials had their hand in the till so to speak. 

You see MP's are paid officials but are also allowed to claim from the national purse such expenses as they may occur in the pursuance of their job. Most MP's have to maintain two residences. They are required to have an address within their constituency but since they spend most of their working life in London, they need some where to live. The state picks up the tab. They also need office staff for correspondence etc. Well the list is large but you get the idea. However some had significantly abused it. My favourites where for the upkeep of a moat at the family castle and the building of an island for some pet ducks. There were many and some were extremely technical.

The upshot is that the subsequent independent body has just recommended an £8000 pay rise from £67000 to £74000. This has caused outrage amongst many public servants who have been under the cosh of a 2 year pay freeze followed by 1% this year and other benefit losses.

The government is suitably embarrassed, bless their souls, but the debate rages. 

The argument for the rise is that "we" as a country need to attract the right people for the job and remunerate them sufficiently for their trouble. Many would argue that the current salary and "expenses" does just that. 

In fact I would. £67000 is not a huge salary by mega bucks London/merchant banker rates but it is well above what a man in the street can hope to earn. Average earnings in the UK are about £26000. 

Okay I have several issues

• Parliament IS a gravy train to some politicians - They are elected in so called "safe" seats that always return an MP of a certain hue. Get one of these seats and you can ride the train all the way to a fat pension and a luxury farmhouse in Tuscany ( or Chiantishire as it is affectionately known)
• They get paid enough! They should consider themselves privileged to have earnt our vote, their job is represent us not fleece us

On a political chat show an ex politician suggested that these poor politicians should be allowed to seek outside employment elsewhere to make up their earning potential. The risk is that these outside interests can be a godsend for the lobbyists. MP's have to declare interests before debates but it has occurred where an MP's outside "interests" have affected their political stance. 

the risk with my stance is that MP's will find under hand ways of making more money i.e the money for questions scandal of the 1990's that finally put paid to Conservative rule in 1997.

An issue was raised on the aforementioned chat show that this drive for money was powered by the fact that all our politicians went to University with the same people who are now raking it in as merchant bakers and lawyers and feel they need to keep pace.

Well let me tell all you voters out there that we need to make sure they remember who and what they are there for by placing an X marks the spot on a ballot paper. We, the electorate, grant them almost total power over our daily lives with just a small "X" in the box by their name. As voters we ought to remind them that they only have their precious income by our good grace, and they are privileged to have it.

Vote Monster Raving Loony Party!

Although my vote would be for the Fancy Dress Party