How much should MPs be paid?

jackieblack

Naf wrote: »

They should get the minimum wage, and have to claim benefits. They should have to live just the same as the poor b@stards who they arbitrarily pluck figures out of the air to decide their income.
In addition; no expense claims. They get a travel card if they live further away from London than a JSA claimant is expected to travel for work, which will cover only that route from home to the JSA distance from London - they fund the rest of the difference themselves. No cushty second homes; buildings in London should be re-purposed as basic accommodation; room, shower & either shared kitchen, or basic kitchenettes.

Yeah, that'll work :cool:

penrhyn

If you want to see what the piggies claim in expenses you can here:-

http://www.parliamentary-standards.org.uk/SearchFunction.aspx


You would be amazed at some of the claims, for example 99p for toilet paper.



Financial Year 2012-13
Expense Category Office Costs
Expense Type Hospitality
Amount Claimed £0.99
Amount Paid £0.99
Amount Not Paid £0.00
Amount Repaid N/A
Status Paid
Date 19/10/2012
Short Description Misc Stationery receipts
Details Family Bargins toilet paper

lkate

I think people forget that they actually get a lot more than just this salary.
I would be so happy with £66,000 a year!

They claim expenses. This can include chauffeur driven cars. So discount whatever a few of them would be paying in car tax, insurance and petrol and they're already making a saving!
A lot of them also do work outside of parliament and get paid for that. The status they get for working within government is enough to make them more money. Let's not forget how much they are likely to make after they have left their job. Whether this be in the house of Lords or attending "talks" and conferences. Just look how much Tony Blair has made.

I'd rather people took the job for the want of doing something right and good rather than "Oh that looks like a healthy pay packet and look at everything else we get too!"

lkate

penrhyn wrote: »

If you want to see what the piggies claim in expenses you can here:-

http://www.parliamentary-standards.org.uk/SearchFunction.aspx


You would be amazed at some of the claims, for example 99p for toilet paper.



Financial Year 2012-13
Expense Category Office Costs
Expense Type Hospitality
Amount Claimed £0.99
Amount Paid £0.99
Amount Not Paid £0.00
Amount Repaid N/A
Status Paid
Date 19/10/2012
Short Description Misc Stationery receipts
Details Family Bargins toilet paper

COME ON! If you're going to claim for something like toilet roll at least make it a premium brand one so that it's actually worth it

JimmyTheWig

I think the categories in the poll are a little odd.
Quite a big gap between £31k and £55k. And many options above what they currently get which I doubt many people will vote for.

I voted £31k like a senior nurse currently gets.
I think an average MP should get the same as an average teacher. I can't find out what that is, but I think £31k is probably the closest guess, though maybe a little low.
Incidentally I think an average nurse should be paid the same as an average teacher, too. So while I've selected the "senior nurse" option I think a _senior_ nurse should get more than an average MP.

potz

Now is not the time to be considering giving MPs a substantial payrise. Public sector workers are having pay rises and pensions cut / restricted because of the country's economy, so how can it be fair to not approach the pay of MPs with the same principle?

daska

Paying average salary would give them an incentive to improve everybody's living standards. No other jobs (consultant, chief exec etc.) should be allowed. Ideally they should spend the first six months in a wheelchair on ESA to give them a real taste for how us 'scroungers' survive that experience. All MP's london housing should be on what's left of council estates, preferably on the third floor with a lift that breaks down regularly. Really truly, we cannot be "in it together" unless the people responsible for representing us understand who and what they are representing.

patchwork_cat

They should receive pay commensurate with their responsibilities, ie a lot more than at the moment, but they should have no other sources of income.

Until we pay them a good wage that would equate to their earning power in other sectors we will continue to get monkeys. No more peanuts!

JimmyTheWig

patchwork_cat wrote: »

Until we pay them a good wage that would equate to their earning power in other sectors we will continue to get monkeys. No more peanuts!

I've never heard anyone say that they don't want to be an MP because the pay is too low.

patchwork_cat

Well then Jimmy I'll say it. I would not do the job they are expected to do for £66K.