To think being an MP is a full-time job and being Editor of The Standard is also a full-time job?

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Not for superman George Osborne, though. He has just been appointed Editor of the Standard and will continue as an MP. How delighted his constituents must be.

The Standard is constantly campaigning on social justice issues and doesn't tend to take a party-related stance generally. It's about London.

Really Evgeny User ?

You must be reading a different version of the ES to the one I pick up outside of London tube stations

The Standard though... like we need a 50001th reason to loathe ES.

You'd think a Russian oligarch would have better things to do than set up a shitty free newspaper and a fake theatre awards just to be able to force famous people to hang out with him.

It's not 2 jobs he has it's 6!

Mp
Editor of ES
Advisor to blackrock
Chairman of northern powerhouse
Fellow at McCain institute
After dinner speaker for Washington speaker bureau.

Gardengeek excellent posts.

Similar ideas currently doing the rounds on fb. Some posters have even identified currently empty buildings that would be suitable, that could house a number of MPs, look nice, have nice dining rooms, kitchens, rooms that could be used for meetings/as conference rooms they CERTAINLY don't need large nice second houses with front and back gardens (and bloody marble statues, ponds etc!) in expensive parts of London each!

They don't need expensive transport contracts.

They don't need £40 breakfasts when they're not even meeting anyone.

I wish we could put them on nmw and and have them clock in/out and pay them only for the hours they actually work! But national ave would be great too.

If you have an official Government role, how do you find the time to do that role and also act as an MP for your local constituency?

How effective can you be as an MP for local people IF you are also a Minister?

Why is anyone surprised? MPs are only ever in it for the money.

Egosum good point.

MPs are only ever in it for the money.

I don't think so, odile.

Sure, some are. But others...

I didn't know much about Jo Cox MP before she was murdered. But reading about her she clearly wasn't at Westminster just for the salary: other jobs pay more. And the person who served as my MP dropped highly paid work to do two terms in Westminster. Quite the opposite of Osborne.

Some people genuinely do have a notion of public service - including some whose politics I utterly disagree with, but whose personal actions in this I can respect.

Osborne on the other hand...

I think quite a lot of MPs are in it for the politics. Some of course are in it for the (actual or potential) power - but there are loads of better-paid jobs!

There's a petition

you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/george-osborne-pick-a-job

Apparently Osborne is already in the dog-house for failing to get Cabinet Office approval for the job.

I'm pleased to see the Committee on Standards in Public Life is going to be examining this and is talking of changing the rules. Whether that translates into something with teeth, remains to be seen...

George Osborne: Second-job rules for MPs to be examined (BBC)

Not sure I'm that worked up by this.
Let him be an editor of one of his Tory buddies newspapers. It will hopefully go under with him at the healm. If people vote for him then more fool them.

I'm more concerned with how the robbing bastards are stripping public services.

I agree many become MP's and I think most do becuase they want to make a difference but I think many get given opportunities that they didn't have before of making more money gaining power out of their role and far far to many take it up

I would be happy for MP's to earn a higher salary of say 100k a year and that their expense be tightened this could easily be done by employing accountants that deal with them all there isn't that many of them to manage and that the rules were stricter no second jobs and absolutely no position of authority in other companies as directors or board members.

It's a huge privilege to be elected as an MP yet so many seem to forget this

It's a massive fuck you symbol to people. I don't agree most things Trump does - but this is the swamp in action. Certain politicians and elite people taking things for themselves and using privilege and power to get what they want.

Shame Trump says it - as he is part of the problem as well.

It is Animal Farm. All people are equal but some people say fuck you to everyone else and use their connections and status to get more*

*That might not have been the exact quote

I'm really not Evgeny, SeaWitch - don't you remember all those ES initiatives to give inner London kids better opportunities, get them out of gangs, etc?

Plus GO will be a Remainer for London during the crucial Brexit period, which will be useful for business.

Plus his middle name really seems to upset posh Labourites who apparently have no similar objections to Jeremy, Tristram et al.

Finally he probably figured if a numpty like Trumpty can lead the free world, he's at least qualified to take an editorial overview about a city he knows pretty well during a critical time when the engine room of the country is at some risk. So all in all it's a pretty smart appointment. And his constituency's disappearing, he will surely want to address that by May (month).

Enthusiasm there are already accountants and auditors who are supposedly there to monitor and permit MP's expenses. They are civil service employees.

That's another problem with the uk parliament, civil servants working at Westminster who are in their jobs for decades advising politicians and ministers, and who have their own political beliefs and agendas. I am reliably informed that 'yes minister' wasn't so wide of the mark as we'd like to believe,

There are MP's who have a genuine sense of public service, and there are MP's who see it as a great way to get power, as a stepping stone to more power/financial reward and both are in ALL parties.

OP here. I don't approve of GO's set up (obviously) but I do think MPs should be well paid. We're asking them to do one of the most responsible and demanding jobs in the country (if it's done properly), including potentially taking the decision to go to war. We don't want just anybody doing it. We want intelligent people from all walks of life to go into Parliament. That means paying them a salary commensurate with their experience and responsibilities. I have no problem with that at all.

Trouble is, what is 'a salary commensurate with their experience'? Different people rank that in different ways. To northerners from poorer backgrounds the current salary is far more than merely adequate - £30k is riches way beyond the dreams of many.

The higher salaries found elsewhere are just ludicrous and there is no way most of us would pay taxes to support higher wages for the current shower. The existing economic inequalities in the country are a major obstacle there.

I totally agree about the need to deal with their expenses and their 'accommodation' excuses requirements.

That should have been £30k is riches beyond the dreams of most. £20k is riches beyond the dreams of many in most parts of the north.

OK Bloody, let's start the equalising process with property prices.

yes why don't you? London's property bubble is a major issue for the whole country, especially if you're blaming/ taxing the north for it...

Like I said, the economic inequality in this country is a major problem.

I've got 16 years journalism experience under my belt. I think I might run for Prime Minister in my free time.

Yes, we'd all love a house down here. Ain't gonna happen even on our fabulous salaries.

Whereas even JAMs have houses outside the SE!

Anything on the news/newspapers about Osbourne isn't good. He is a smug and self promoting man who doesn't care what he leaves in his wake!
Going back just a year ago he instilled fear and apprehension to normal people with policies he tried to bring in.