MPs To Get 10% Backdated Pay Rise To £74,000

[arista]

http://news.sky.com/story/1520010/mps-to-get-10-percent-backdated-pay-rise-to-74000


MPs basic pay will increase from £67,060 to £74,000


http://media.skynews.com/media/images/generated/2015/6/2/396560/default/v1/parliament-1-762x428.jpg


Sign Of The Times.

[rubymoo]

This makes me furious:rant:

It's all the parties that do it.......first thing they do is give themselves a pay rise, whilst the rest of us get naff all!

Makes me sick......and they wonder why the voters don't trust them and are disorientated about politics:rant:

[arista]

But less money for bills
to pay for that.

[Toy Soldier]

An independent commission decides it and apparently the mps can't even refuse. One assumes the members of this independent commission have been huffing a tonne of glue.

I of course expect the MP's who were against the rise will donate the excess to a working poor family. Right?

[arista]

An independent commission decides it and apparently the mps can't even refuse. One assumes the members of this independent commission have been huffing a tonne of glue.

I of course expect the MP's who were against the rise will donate the excess to a working poor family. Right?


Yes lets have a List of them

[Toy Soldier]

Yes lets have a List of them
They could donate their £7000 a year to TiBB?

[smudgie]

No good blaming the politicians.
Personally I don't think they are overpaid anyway, not forgetting they can get sacked at any election:joker:

[Cherie]

I really don't understand this, Cameron tried to block it but the Committee insisted on the grounds that MPs have lost other ways of claiming back cash. Why 10%, why not 1% like the rest of us have to put up with, I thought there was a freeze on public sector pay, absolute farce.

[joeysteele]

No good blaming the politicians.
Personally I don't think they are overpaid anyway, not forgetting they can get sacked at any election:joker:

I agree and this rise is linked to a loss of certain expenses and also payments after leaving parliament too.
10% in one go does sound steep but this is independently arrived at and is after several years too.

[the truth]

This is not a big issue....but the overpayment of usless wastefull unaccountable local councillors, chief executives on 3 times the salary of the prime minister , now that is a massive issue........ps would anyone here be an mp for £74k? No chance from me

[MTVN]

It's not even going to cost the taxpayer anything because the money for the rise comes from changes to pensions and expenses.

It's a very sensible decision once all the emotive outrage gets looked past and it's absurd that MPs once again become the targets of public anger for something that an independent body has recommended. If you want to be angry about someone's pay then there are far more appropriate targets than MPs

[Vicky.]

It's not even going to cost the taxpayer anything because the money for the rise comes from changes to pensions and expenses.

It's a very sensible decision once all the emotive outrage gets looked past and it's absurd that MPs once again become the targets of public anger for something that an independent body has recommended. If you want to be angry about someone's pay then there are far more appropriate targets than MPs

Problem with this is though, independent body recommendations are ignored so much, but have to be listened to when it comes to MPs wages?! :joker:

Anyway I would be all for an even bigger payrise on the condition that 'expense accounts' are completely done away with.

I just really do feel its a bit of a pisstake given the rest of the country is suffering cuts and pay freezes...

[MTVN]

Problem with this is though, independent body recommendations are ignored so much, but have to be listened to when it comes to MPs wages?! :joker:

Anyway I would be all for an even bigger payrise on the condition that 'expense accounts' are completely done away with.

I just really do feel its a bit of a pisstake given the rest of the country is suffering cuts and pay freezes...

MPs have literally no control over their salaries I think though. To reject it would probably involve changing the law and while it might be possible people probably wouldn't be too happy about MPs having the power to pay themselves whatever the hell they want either. It's been a while coming this increase though because MPs pay doesn't really make sense in proportion to the work they do and relative to other public figures - a lot of local council bosses earn way more than the Prime Minister does.

[Livia]

It's still not what a middle manager in the City would make. If we don't want rich people who are independently wealthy dominating the House of Commons, we have to pay them a salary commensurate with the responsibility they have to encourage people with good degrees to look on it as a good career choice.

[Toy Soldier]

I disagree Livia, it's already a perfectly respectable salary to live on and thus anyone who is genuinely interested in making a difference in politics will not be put off by it even if they could earn more elsewhere. If being in politics is their passion then that's where they will want to be.

There's nothing worse than a career politician half-arsing it for a paycheque.

[Livia]

I disagree Livia, it's already a perfectly respectable salary to live on and thus anyone who is genuinely interested in making a difference in politics will not be put off by it even if they could earn more elsewhere. If being in politics is their passion then that's where they will want to be.

There's nothing worse than a career politician half-arsing it for a paycheque.

Passion doesn't pay the bills. If someone from an ordinary background with a good degree is looking at the options being a politician with all the crap that goes with it isn't going to be a great option when you can much earn more in another job. Or, become a politician and have other irons in the fire so that your constituency doesn't get 100% attention. The MPs I know work long hours and although the Parliamentary recess looks like they get a lot of holidays, a lot of that time is spent working in their constituency.

[Toy Soldier]

Passion doesn't pay the bills. If someone from an ordinary background with a good degree is looking at the options being a politician with all the crap that goes with it isn't going to be a great option when you can much earn more in another job. Or, become a politician and have other irons in the fire so that your constituency doesn't get 100% attention. The MPs I know work long hours and although the Parliamentary recess looks like they get a lot of holidays, a lot of that time is spent working in their constituency.
No, but £67,060 sure as **** pays the bills. Someone with a good degree "looking at the options" should not be choosing politics because it has an attractive pay package. They should be choosing it because it has a pay package that can more than sustain them, and because they actually have ideals and ideas that they can only pursue as a politician.

[Livia]

No, but £67,060 sure as **** pays the bills. Someone with a good degree "looking at the options" should not be choosing politics because it has an attractive pay package. They should be choosing it because it has a pay package that can more than sustain them, and because they actually have ideals and ideas that they can only pursue as a politician.

So you want them to have ideals and ideas but to accept a reasonably low salary for the responsibility they take. Not sure I agree. No way would I have considered it as a career option, not just because of the salary but because of the disrespect they generally get and the fact that they can be out of their ear every four or five years.

Something else on which we will have to agree to disagree.

[Cherie]

Lol at the its only 74,000, tell that to a care worker in an old folks home or a nurse someone we will all come into contact with at some point in our lives, most people will never meet their MPs

[Toy Soldier]

So you want them to have ideals and ideas but to accept a reasonably low salary for the responsibility they take. Not sure I agree. No way would I have considered it as a career option, not just because of the salary but because of the disrespect they generally get and the fact that they can be out of their ear every four or five years.

Something else on which we will have to agree to disagree.

The fact that you think it's a "reasonably low" salary says it all Livia; you have a city-centric viewpoint that is completely alien to the vast majority of working people in the UK.

I don't want them taking pay hikes massively above the rate of inflation, whilst also claiming expenses, when so many working people in the country are also disrespected, are also in insecure employment, get paid half of that salary or less, and aren't getting any pay rise at all in real terms. Funnily enough.

[Livia]

The fact that you think it's a "reasonably low" salary says it all Livia; you have a city-centric viewpoint that is completely alien to the vast majority of working people in the UK.

I don't want them taking pay hikes massively above the rate of inflation, whilst also claiming expenses, when so many working people in the country are also disrespected, are also in insecure employment, get paid half of that salary or less, and aren't getting any pay rise at all in real terms. Funnily enough.

Saying I have a city-centric viewpoint intimates that I am out of touch with the real working world, and I am not, I just see it from a different perspective. I worked hard for my career, gave up things, worked two, sometimes three jobs to get through uni. There's nothing special about me, I went to an inner-city comprehensive, my father was a soldier and then a paramedic. I swapped my social life for study, and if after all that I had settled for something that wasn't what I wanted and didn't give me the lifestyle I worked for then that would have been my own fault. I would never have considered being a politician and I'm sure there are lots of qualified people from working class backgrounds that feel the same.

Anyhoo, I'm sure at some point we will stumble across a topic where we can share some middle ground. This isn't going to be it though.

[Toy Soldier]

You said that £67,000 is a reasonably low salary. You are out of touch with the real working world, whether you realise it or not.

[Toy Soldier]

Oh and also, the suggestion that people who aren't on higher salaries haven't worked as hard. Meh.

[Cherie]

Saying I have a city-centric viewpoint intimates that I am out of touch with the real working world, and I am not, I just see it from a different perspective. I worked hard for my career, gave up things, worked two, sometimes three jobs to get through uni. There's nothing special about me, I went to an inner-city comprehensive, my father was a soldier and then a paramedic. I swapped my social life for study, and if after all that I had settled for something that wasn't what I wanted and didn't give me the lifestyle I worked for then that would have been my own fault. I would never have considered being a politician and I'm sure there are lots of qualified people from working class backgrounds that feel the same.

Anyhoo, I'm sure at some point we will stumble across a topic where we can share some middle ground. This isn't going to be it though.


A lot of people work hard not everyone is academic thats the difference, just because someone works in a low paid job doesn't mean they don't give it their all, public sector are on a pay freeze why does that not apply to MPs?

[Cherie]

Oh and also, the suggestion that people who aren't on higher salaries haven't worked as hard. Meh.

Just said as much, this idea that if you don't earn 100k you are not working hard ..what on earth

[Livia]

You said that £67,000 is a reasonably low salary. You are out of touch with the real working world, whether you realise it or not.

I said it was a reasonably low salary when looked at against comparable careers (including local authority managers) and for the responsibility it involves. Because you think that I'm out of touch doesn't make it true. All you know about me is what you deduce from my posts and everything is open to interpretation. I know who I am and I know what I am and your judgement means nothing to me.

Oh and also, the suggestion that people who aren't on higher salaries haven't worked as hard. Meh.

I was speaking personally, saying that of all the choices I had when I left uni, being a politician didn't even make the shortlist. Nowhere did I suggest that people who aren't on higher salaries haven't worked hard. We all make choices, I don't judge people on what they earn. My father was on sh1t pay driving an emergency ambulance and he is my greatest hero.

[Livia]

A lot of people work hard not everyone is academic thats the difference, just because someone works in a low paid job doesn't mean they don't give it their all, public sector are on a pay freeze why does that not apply to MPs?

I think I've covered this in the post above.

[Livia]

Just said as much, this idea that if you don't earn 100k you are not working hard ..what on earth

I didn't say that. At all.

[joeysteele]

It's still not what a middle manager in the City would make. If we don't want rich people who are independently wealthy dominating the House of Commons, we have to pay them a salary commensurate with the responsibility they have to encourage people with good degrees to look on it as a good career choice.

On this issue, I am firmly with you Livia.
As I stated earlier, I agree with this rise.

[Toy Soldier]

I can only reiterate that if someone creates their shortlist based predominantly on potential earnings, then they have a mercenary approach to careers.

That's not necessarily a bad thing; there's nothing wrong with having a goal of high earnings and the associated lifestyle. It however has absolutely no place in a political career and someone whose motivation is the numbers on their paycheque, will make a horrendous politician.

I'm not saying that they should get a pittance, I'm saying that if the salary is good enough to live a decent life (and one would assume that it is, given that it's TRIPLE what the govt. insists a family of 4 can live on) then it shouldn't be off putting for the sort of person who SHOULD be a politician - I.e. Someone so passionate about their politics that other careers aren't even on the radar.

[Livia]

I can only reiterate that if someone creates their shortlist based predominantly on potential earnings, then they have a mercenary approach to careers.
That's not necessarily a bad thing; there's nothing wrong with having a goal of high earnings and the associated lifestyle. It however has absolutely no place in a political career and someone whose motivation is the numbers on their paycheque, will make a horrendous politician.

I'm not saying that they should get a pittance, I'm saying that if the salary is good enough to live a decent life (and one would assume that it is, given that it's TRIPLE what the govt. insists a family of 4 can live on) then it shouldn't be off putting for the sort of person who SHOULD be a politician - I.e. Someone so passionate about their politics that other careers aren't even on the radar.

The shortlist I referred to wasn't based purely on finance it was based on a number of factors including responsibility, progression and job security. I find your criticism a little mercenary.

[Livia]

I agree and this rise is linked to a loss of certain expenses and also payments after leaving parliament too.
10% in one go does sound steep but this is independently arrived at and is after several years too.

On this issue, I am firmly with you Livia.
As I stated earlier, I agree with this rise.

Thank you, Joey. It's inevitable that there would be a knee-jerk public reaction to this, and it's good to see your post knowing that you understand the background.

[MTVN]

+1 to Livia's posts

[Toy Soldier]

The shortlist I referred to wasn't based purely on finance it was based on a number of factors including responsibility, progression and job security. I find your criticism a little mercenary.
I'm not entirely sure you understand what I mean by mercenary... I'm 99% sure I'm not getting paid for this.

Or AM I....

[Livia]

I'm not entirely sure you understand what I mean by mercenary... I'm 99% sure I'm not getting paid for this.

Or AM I....

Please exchange the word 'mercenary' for 'personal'

[Toy Soldier]

Please exchange the word 'mercenary' for 'personal'
It's not personal, you don't want to be a politician... There's nothing wrong with making education and career choices based on personal advancement. In fact it's quite sensible. I wish I'd been as sensible when I was at University, I managed to take effortlessly near-perfect school grades and a list of unconditional Uni acceptances and turn them into a big steaming pile of **** all. It was stupid. I love money! And I will unashamedly say that I am more than open to any career progression that gets me more money, responsibility and scope for further progression as you say. For most people, this is undoubtedly the sane way to go.

But it (a focus on personal advancement and financial gain) is still surely not what anyone wants or needs in a politician. The lure should not be the salary, it should be a genuine desire to improve the country and help people. For the record, I would also make a crap politician.

[Livia]

It's not personal, you don't want to be a politician... There's nothing wrong with making education and career choices based on personal advancement. In fact it's quite sensible. I wish I'd been as sensible when I was at University, I managed to take effortlessly near-perfect school grades and a list of unconditional Uni acceptances and turn them into a big steaming pile of **** all. It was stupid. I love money! And I will unashamedly say that I am more than open to any career progression that gets me more money, responsibility and scope for further progression as you say. For most people, this is undoubtedly the sane way to go.

But it (a focus on personal advancement and financial gain) is still surely not what anyone wants or needs in a politician. The lure should not be the salary, it should be a genuine desire to improve the country and help people. For the record, I would also make a crap politician.


Do you think that's how it works now? All those people in Parliament are answering a calling to enter politics and serve their community? No. In a perfect world politics would be a kind of vocation, like nursing; which is why, I suppose, nurses are not paid what they're worth. I don't see a time when politicians do the job just for the love of it. So whatever it takes to get more working class people who've struggled to get a good degree to consider entering politics, the better I will like it.

[Toy Soldier]

No I don't think it's how it works now, but I think UK politics is an absolute shambles. To the point that it would be hilarious, if it wasn't simultaneously depressing.

People with good degrees not being attracted by high salaries is not the reason for there being too few working class people in politics. There are huge obstacles including the (understandable) lack of interest in domestic politics for working class people growing up, the hurdle for working class people of attaining a good degree from a good university in the first place, the lack of buddies already involved in politics to give them that "in"...

Attractive salaries may be a small factor but it's hardly the kicker.

[lostalex]

so they are reducing their pensions and increasing their salaries... so basically they are getting money that they would have been getting in their pensions, but sooner. i bet many people wish they could get this deal. wouldn't everyone like to increase their yearly salary instead of having to wait for the money in their pensions?

What a scam.

[smudgie]

Not sure about needing a degree to be an MP, for me the best ones are the ones that have worked their way up so to speak.
Now if you pay peanuts then only well off people would be able to do the job, I want more grass root politicians that are working for the people they represent because they have the fire in their belly, the only thing I would like to see changed is that the MP should be born and bred local to whom/where they represent.

[Livia]

Not sure about needing a degree to be an MP, for me the best ones are the ones that have worked their way up so to speak.
Now if you pay peanuts then only well off people would be able to do the job, I want more grass root politicians that are working for the people they represent because they have the fire in their belly, the only thing I would like to see changed is that the MP should be born and bred local to whom/where they represent.

You're right Smudgie, of course you don't need a degree to be an MP. But if you have one when you go for selection with your chosen party then your qualifications and experience will count for you, like in any job.

My local MP wasn't born in this area, neither was I for that matter. But he's lived here for twenty years, has a young family who attend local schools and he's very much involved. So while I don't necessarily agree that they should be born and bred in an area, I do think they should be connected and engaged with their local area and be able to demonstrate that at selection instead of someone who's well-connected in the party being flown in from God knows where to take a safe seat.

[Livia]

so they are reducing their pensions and increasing their salaries... so basically they are getting money that they would have been getting in their pensions, but sooner. i bet many people wish they could get this deal. wouldn't everyone like to increase their yearly salary instead of having to wait for the money in their pensions?

What a scam.

Hmmm.. seems a little short-sighted to me.

Hey Alex, nice to see you.

[smudgie]

You're right Smudgie, of course you don't need a degree to be an MP. But if you have one when you go for selection with your chosen party then your qualifications and experience will count for you, like in any job.

My local MP wasn't born in this area, neither was I for that matter. But he's lived here for twenty years, has a young family who attend local schools and he's very much involved. So while I don't necessarily agree that they should be born and bred in an area, I do think they should be connected and engaged with their local area and be able to demonstrate that at selection instead of someone who's well-connected in the party being flown in from God knows where to take a safe seat.

Yes, I agree with not being born and bred..might be a step too far.
Living in the area and knowing the people and their needs will do nicely.
Livia, you always manage to put my thoughts down far better than I ever could:laugh:

[Livia]

Yes, I agree with not being born and bred..might be a step too far.
Living in the area and knowing the people and their needs will do nicely.
Livia, you always manage to put my thoughts down far better than I ever could:laugh:

Awww thanks Smudgie. If only I was half as good at everything else as I am at waffling!

[joeysteele]

Yes, I agree with not being born and bred..might be a step too far.
Living in the area and knowing the people and their needs will do nicely.
Livia, you always manage to put my thoughts down far better than I ever could:laugh:



:laugh:She is great isn't she Smudgie, I love Livia, she almost has your real thinking down even before you have thought it.

I also agree an MP should settle in the constituency they may come to win, candidates do have to move about initially in order to achieve success in politics, as long as they take on the constituency afterwards and dedicate themselves to it once elected,I see no wrong in that really.

I hope to go into politics depending where things are nearer 2020,I will happily stand in any constituency to hopefully achieve that aim.
I would however make any constituency I may win,if I ever did,my home one and be dedicated to the needs of that constituency and all the people in it too.

[Livia]

[/B]


:laugh:She is great isn't she Smudgie, I love Livia, she almost has your real thinking down even before you have thought it.

I also agree an MP should settle in the constituency they may come to win, candidates do have to move about initially in order to achieve success in politics, as long as they take on the constituency afterwards and dedicate themselves to it once elected,I see no wrong in that really.

I hope to go into politics depending where things are nearer 2020,I will happily stand in any constituency to hopefully achieve that aim.
I would however make any constituency I may win,if I ever did,my home one and be dedicated to the needs of that constituency and all the people in it too.

I would vote for you joeysteele, even if your rosette's the wrong colour x

[joeysteele]

I would vote for you joeysteele, even if your rosette's the wrong colour x

:joker: One day I may be calling that in Livia,one never knows.:joker:

[Livia]

:joker: One day I may be calling that in Livia,one never knows.:joker:

I told you, when you stand for Parliament, if you're looking for an election agent I will do it free of charge. I've never lost one yet!

[joeysteele]

I told you, when you stand for Parliament, if you're looking for an election agent I will do it free of charge. I've never lost one yet!

I know you have, I have never forgotten that kind offer,it is embedded in my memory.

[Toy Soldier]

Joey, when you become PM I reckon you should choose TiBB members as all of your ministers. It could be great. You could even scrap the physical commons and just have a forum. ThisIsWestminster.com?

[joeysteele]

Joey, when you become PM I reckon you should choose TiBB members as all of your ministers. It could be great. You could even scrap the physical commons and just have a forum. ThisIsWestminster.com?

:joker:Oh gosh,I 'd be happy to achieve actually being selected for a seat and then getting enough votes to possibly win it.
Being an MP is something I would consider an honour,that is enough to be aiming for so far for the future.:joker:

'ThisisWestminster' has a good ring to it however.

[Kizzy]

Anyone who thinks that this is most politicians only income is seriously deluded.
It's a kick in the nuts for all public sector workers.

[Mystic Mock]

It's not that big of a wage jump tbf, I was expecting a bit of a bigger wage increase.

What does annoy me though is why these parties don't try to balance it out and help the rest of us out by using 2k from each MP's wages on top of everybody's working wages already and help booster this country's workers wages.