MP's Expenses
The reaction of the media and the average bloke on the street seems to be that MP's are grossly overpaid layabouts that are now robbing us, poor taxpayers of even more money.
The reality of it is MP's get paid appaulingly for what we ask of them.
- Unreasonable hours.
- Extensive travel between Westminster and their constituency.
- Loss of any semblence of a private life.
....and for this they get a grand sum of 63K
Now this may seem alot to most of us, but to compare it to a few other jobs that I know.
- A technical architect in IT would expect a minumum 50-60k in London
- An average ACA qualified accountant would expect to earn 60k within 4 years of qualifying.
- A head of a department in the public sector would expect around 80k
I beleive MP's have to set their own wages, and no one is going to want to vote for a wage increase for themselves considering the roasting they'd get from the media, so it's no supprise if they boost their wages a little using allowances.
The argument you'll hear against this is you don't go into politics for the money...no they don't but the impression I get was this was a know perk by all MP's that all of the leaders of parties took advantage of and too me it seems like they are each throwing a few of thier MP's to the lions to placate the crowd.
I would LOVE if the result of this was an independant commission is launched into MP's salaries and they come back with a 40k payrise.
The reality of it is MP's get paid appaulingly for what we ask of them.
- Unreasonable hours.
- Extensive travel between Westminster and their constituency.
- Loss of any semblence of a private life.
....and for this they get a grand sum of 63K
Now this may seem alot to most of us, but to compare it to a few other jobs that I know.
- A technical architect in IT would expect a minumum 50-60k in London
- An average ACA qualified accountant would expect to earn 60k within 4 years of qualifying.
- A head of a department in the public sector would expect around 80k
I beleive MP's have to set their own wages, and no one is going to want to vote for a wage increase for themselves considering the roasting they'd get from the media, so it's no supprise if they boost their wages a little using allowances.
The argument you'll hear against this is you don't go into politics for the money...no they don't but the impression I get was this was a know perk by all MP's that all of the leaders of parties took advantage of and too me it seems like they are each throwing a few of thier MP's to the lions to placate the crowd.
I would LOVE if the result of this was an independant commission is launched into MP's salaries and they come back with a 40k payrise.