to think MPs are bonkers to propose that they should get a pay rise!

[TanglednotTamed]

MP payrise proposal

Okay, so it's an 'independent' commission, not MPs themselves, but I would be interested to know just how independent it truly is.

And Sir Ian Kennedy (chairman of commission) is barking to suggest that 'the expenses scandal had been the result of too much pay restraint.'

No, the expenses scandal was because a lot of MPs felt entitled to as much money as they could possibly get! Many of us would feel entitled to more money if we could just help ourselves to it, (see senior bankers...) Fortunately, most of us can't. The people running the country don't need to be compensated for not being able to milk the expenses system any more.

YANBU. Frankly, it makes me despise them. I have always voted and tried to participate positively in civil society but, god, MPs make it bloody hard these days. Sometimes I think we'd be better off just getting rid of the whole lot of them and starting again. I've got more faith in the bloody QUEEN than these bastards. The Queen! What has the world come to? Argh. They're such bastards. Why are they so unrelentingly crook and crap and greedy and CROOK? It kills me to say it - I have grown up knowing our local MPs socially etc and know they are often individually nice people. But demonstrably they're not, collectively, good people. There's a difference. Good is much harder than nice.

All the party leaders have criticised IPSA for making the recommendation, event the much despised Michael Gove has come out and said that he thinks the whole idea is ridiculous, so I'm not sure that there is much support for it.

Oh let's not pretend. They'll take it! They'll make all sorts of noises and then they'll fill their boots. That's what they do OVER and OVER and OVER.

I'm sick of them all.

I'm torn actually.

On the one hand I can see it won't be popular, but on the other I wouldn't want the role of MP to be the preserve of those who can afford to support themselves by other means!

It strikes me that a family who have an MP as one parent, may well have to have only one wage earner, or use very expensive childcare (overnights invloved frequently)...

We don't want to price good people oit of the job!

Also let's not forget these people often take massive pay cuts to become MPs after having left corporate life.

However on the other hand, those of us in the private sector, rather than public, have had a few years of pay freezes. We also dont get final salary pensions...

Sorry but MPs do not do a role akin to senior management. What do you think an mp does?!

Those that do do a more high profile role eg heading up a department or a committee get paid more for it (plus usual expenses).

Their current salaries put them in the top ten percent of the population ffs!

And as for "they've taken a big pay cut" line - MPs are chosen from a small pool of career politicians usually. That in itself is not healthy. People from all walks of life should be able to become MPs. I don't think the salary puts anyone off - it offers a privileged position.

How many people have you heard of not taking a job as MP because it's underpaid

believeitornot Yes, I have actually, both Labour and Conservative. Don't forget the impact on family life (from a financial and child are point of view).

And where does the idea originate that MPs only work in Westminster? Most of them work damn hard in their constituencies.

Stopping meal allowances and final salary pension scheme is also proposed