AIBU to think that many of the country's current troubles....

[AnnieLobeseder]

... could be solved by the very simple measure of paying MPs and the rest of the idiots in Westminster minimum wage?

It would solve our problems in 2 simple ways.

1. only people who genuinely wanted to help the country would apply, not power- and wealth-hungry knobends.

2. they sure as heck would make sure that it was possible to live comfortably on minimum wage, unlike the current state of affairs where you're generally better off on benefits.

Shall we start a petition?

Indeed. MPs and their families need to choose where their base will be, and any second lodgings in constituency/London should be a bedsit and no more.

No reason they shouldn't get a normal to high public sector salary, but with the new pension terms etc etc.

There is an argument that we should pay MP's more, say up to £80k, but allow no expenses claims at all. The additional money would be sufficient to allow commuting to and from London and any accommodation while they are in London.

If you don't pay decent wages, you won't attract sufficient people to the job, or just the already very rich.

I feel if they choose to live someplace other than their constituency, they should foot the bill themselves. If the spouse prefers to live/work in London, then I suppose they need to then consider whether or not they can afford it out of their own pocket.

The majority of MPs work incredibly hard - 12-14 hour days, often working/cammpaigning at weekends too.

I know a lot of other public sector workers with similar or longer hours who are getting paycuts and pension slashing...on an average to low salary. Why should MPs be different?

YANBU

Being an MP is not a job for life. It is public service. They can clean up afterwards (and boy do they)

Annie it used to be like that about 100 yrs ago but Labour MPs from working class backgrounds were not independently wealthy and so the idea of an MP salary was brought in.

Personally, I would like the idea of the members of both houses of Parliament being drawn out of a hat. Those who wanted to do it could nominate themselves. As long as they had never been convicted of a crime and had a minimum level of education their name would go in the hat and serve for 5 years (with a 1 year training course shadowing the previous incumbent) and get paid national average wage and a flat to live in near Parliament that was owned by the state, plus expenses and their mortgage and council tax paid on their constituency home.

Each MP or member of the House of Lords would have to have actually lived in the constituency they represented for at least five years before nomination.

NinkyNonker - Really? I can't think of a single public sector worker that works those sorts of hours...

The reasons the Unions were set up were to fund Labour MPs so the could afford to represent the workers who voted for them.
Members cannot be drawn from a hat as you vote for your MP - if you don't think they should be in as have not lived in the constiuency, then don't vote for them.
Unfortunately, they need to be in London on a regular basis to represent you in the House, if they stayed in the constituency all the time, there would be complaints over the fact they never speak or vote. Voting can be very late at times so need to stay in London and may need a larger house for kids etc.
I agree any gains on a second home should be repaid and can only be claimed if it is in London (or if they have London one as first home and 2nd is in constituency). No support for houses elsewhere and no second home allowance for constituencies within the M25.

Teachers, doctors, nurses etc etc...many pull those hours for a whole lot less.

I like the idea of putting them up in some sort of student accommodation type set-up, but yes, unfortunately, if you paid them minimum wage, we'd only get scumbags like Cameron and Osborne in who don't need the job anyway.

I'm sorry but I really don't believe that teachers and nurses regularly work 14 hour days....

I'm sorry but I really don't believe that teachers and nurses regularly work 14 hour days....

Nor do I.

Unless you only ever want independently wealthy people to become MPs, they need to be paid adequately for the job. No one would be stupid enough to take on the position just for the money; it's something you've got to really want to do.

If you've got the inteligence, cunning, persuasion and political knowledge to be an MP, you could earn more doing something else.

Surely a lot more than half of the population would do it for the average national wage plus expenses and their mortgage getting paid by the state.

tosh.you need to pay a decent wage attract decent candidates
applying your flawed logic only the solvent would gravitate to parliament
and able but poor candidates be deterred

thanks Cavemum! I should have known it was hitchhikers.