General Chat

ChAoTicChristmas, point taken - to clarify what I meant I have changed my post to read:-

"no candidate who is a university graduate should be allowed to stand for election unless they have been in a full-time job for 10 years either before or after graduating"

I know that OFITG was thinking about young graduates when he said what he said but if there was a rule brought in using his wording it could exclude a lot of people who would make excellent MPs.

I wouldn't have MPs working for free either, that could exclude those who couldn't afford to work for free.

I know that OFITG was thinking about young graduates when he said what he said but if there was a rule brought in using his wording it could exclude a lot of people who would make excellent MPs.

I wouldn't have MPs working for free either, that could exclude those who couldn't afford to work for free.

"Would a Political Party be more inclined to put forward someone who has Independent Means"

Most of the current coalition front bench and convicts for example .....

Sure they would ; Unite would like nothing better. To be fair MP salaries were brought in with the idea that MPs would not be chained to their party machines. Sadly the idea hasn't worked.

OFiTG is probably thinking of people who have only been in education, and haven't experienced the stresses of 'real life' and the work place. You could say the same for the majority of School Teachers! Although the rest of that post is idealistic, there are some good suggestions.

Not so sure about Rollo's options. Would a Political Party be more inclined to put forward someone who has Independent Means so that they wouldn't have to contribute to the salary??

Young mps are the best ones they actually care about the future because they will live there, they are not so cynical and have far more courage. Whether they have universty degrees or not is immaterial.

example:

William Pitt the Younger (28 May 1759 – 23 January 1806)
Cambridge University graduate, P.M. at 24

""I think I could eat one of Bellamy's veal pies."
last words, attrib.

"no candidate who is a university graduate should be allowed to stand for election until 10 years after they have graduated;"

What if they're a 'mature' graduate? I was 39 when I graduated.

I don't think they should receive any kind of salary from the central government.
Instead they could opt

(a) to do the job for free ( as was the case for hundreds of years )

(b) each year the constituents to vote on salary for the coming year with a minimum of the living wage + YMCA hostel fee and 2nd class train fare / oyster card; of course constituents may decide they deserve better

(c) their party might also pay salary in whole or part

It is because there is now no link between party / MP income and the voter that our political class ( all parties ) have become so deaf and undemocratic.

It might also be a good idea for members of the government not also to be MPs. Examples: USA, France.

Agree with most of that. Plus they and their families should live in their constituencies, not just have a tiny flat where they camp out at weekends. They aren't going to care much about local schools if their children don't go to them, or local hospitals if they always use London ones.

After what I have witnessed, just in the last 5 years, from politicians of all persuasions, I would make them all stand down at the next election and not allow any of them to stand for re-election - let's have a totally clean sweep ;-)

There could be a case maybe for higher salaries, but for starters, no candidate who is a university graduate should be allowed to stand for election unless they have been in a full-time job for 10 years either before or after graduating; they should not be allowed to have any other job; work 9 till 5 with no late sittings except where it relates to a national emergency; no travelling or accommodation expenses for those who live within daily commuting distance from London except when there is a late sitting as above and then 3 star hotel accommodation only; no additional salary for being a member of a House of Commons Committee; and no employment of family members.

I think MPs should get a substantial pay rise.

In return they should not be allowed to take on any outside jobs, directorships etc.

Just do the job they are paid for and be paid a salary similar to their equivalents abroad.

Without condoning the increase one bit, there's more to MP's salaries

1. The increase may be staged over 5 years from 2015
2. It is likely that there will be changes to their guaranteed pensions which will largely cancel out the proposed increase
3. MPs’ wages are well below those of equivalent professionals working in London such as accountants
4. Many sources believe a fair deal for MP's requires a 25% increase, not 10%
5. Pay peanuts and get monkeys

The first is about the Office for Budget Responsibility downgrading their forecast for wage rises, with average earnings in 2013 now expected to grow by 1.5% compared to the 2.1% they predicted in March of this year.

The second is about an 11% pay rise - the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is expected to press ahead with an 11% rise for MP's, the increase will see an increase in MP's’ salaries from £66,396 to £74,000, despite opposition from the three main party leaders the watchdog made clear last night that MP's would not be able to turn down the rise, it is automatic a source explained.

What was it they said, oh I remember, it was - we are all in it together and we are on the side of hardworking families :-S