MP Chris Brown - how incredibly cheeky?

[KitschBitch]

The above MP requested to be paid extra for childcare for parliament meeting tomorrow. Surely MP's get paid enough already?????

They cant claim for second homes they own any longer -they can claim a contribution towards rent or overnight hotel- neither rates are enough for central london.

If they own (2015 prices but that was because that was the last election cycle) If you already own a home in London or your constituency (or within a 20 mile radius), and you stay there routinely whilst on parliamentary business, you can claim for associated expenditure. The budget for associated expenditure is up to £8,850 per year. The budget includes the following:
· utility bills (gas, electricity, other fuel and water); and
· ground rent and service charges.

I think the important thing is that they have not allowed anything in employment legislation to help working parents with this sort of request (ie there a no real ability for parents to ask for help towards additional childcare costs if they are asked to work additional hours), that's why it seems so cheeky.

I have already said huge payrises, nurseries, expenses account for second home. A while ago one MP tried to claim for having a moat cleaned

Have you consumed any news in the last decade?

One mp i know live sunday-thursday in a multiple flat share. That is all their allowance covers. They are a mature professional person. Hardly living it up on the £1500 a month odd housing allowance they get for central London. For the 2015 election cohort the allowance for rent was £18,883

Not spouting, just speaking, Winter. On the parliamentary website, it says they receive expenses for living in London or their constituency, travel, etc, dated April 2019.

Not spouting, just speaking, Winter. On the parliamentary website, it says they receive expenses for living in London or their constituency, travel, etc, dated April 2019.

They do indeed. As I said above. What can you rent in central London for £1500 a month? It is all published and transparent- so please do read about it.

Most people get paid accommodation if they go away to work. they get travel and a daily allowance. It is £25 for MPs. My company pays £42 daily allowance for London as a comparison for you. I stay in london most weeks- you can rely on getting a hotel for under £150 (their allowance). My company has an allowance of £220 as an example and sometime that isn't enough (London fashion week, Tuesday nights etc).

Can they still employ their wives and children? Yes I know the local publican and corner shop can do the same. But we all know it's not the same really.

Yes, what RainbowMum said.

So, yes they are really living it up. They all have moats in their third homes. I heard that one had 4 nannies (and doesn't even have any children only dogs). They make their cleaner lick the floor clean rather than using a hoover. They arrive at work by jet ski down the Thames.

One has a patchwork cushion of an owl in their ministerial car (that might be true)

Maybe we should make it a bring your child to work day. The kids could even participate in the debate. They'd probably make a fuck of a lot more sense than many of their parents.

There’s actually a fairly good argument that mp”s don’t get paid enough. If you’re a medical consultant, barrister at the top of your game, CEO and a number of other elite roles that require huge amounts of brains, skills and common sense then being an mp is a massive pay cut. It means the tories are stuffed with trust fund toffs and labour mp”s get money off the unions. You could argue that they should double mp”s wages and you may attract higher quality candidates. Let’s face it, the current lot seem pretty useless.

I agree. There is a risk that only the independently wealthy will be able to afford to become MPs- and that cant be a good thing.

Well this thread certainly gave me a different point of view and quelled my immediate righteous indignation. It's also food for thought how quickly I negativity react to things like this nowadays without thinking it through - I never used to.

Are people defending this because he is Labour? Can you imagine the outcry if it was a Tory? He’d be slaughtered

GPatz I admit was the same; and then I gave it some thought. It’s not the salary; it’s the principle of the matter.

Any employee should feel like they have the ability to ask for compensation when asked to work outside the norm.

Presumably you'd want a certain caliber of person to be your MP?

That's what I'd want. It's not what I've got.

I don’t think he should have asked. Must MPs work on Saturdays- yes, in their constituency, but most would be working.
The idea of this Saturday sitting was first raised over a week ago. Plenty of time to start considering alternative childcare if needed.

My DH is an MP. Him sitting today has meant changes to our weekend plans. But being an MP means you have to have flexible childcare in place.

I don’t think IPSA (the expenses people) should be covering the cost of childcare for today. It should come out of salary/ like all childcare.

If an MP was really stuck, they could take their kids with them in to Parliament, sit with them in the families room (very close to the chamber) to watch the debate on the special TV there. They could then take their kids through the voting lobbies with them. That’s what DH would have done if absolutely necessary.

nagynolonger MPs can employ 1 family member if they were doing so before 2017. They can’t employ a new family member any more. For those who are employed, there are set payscales, and the salary of the family member is published online. (Along with all the other expenses for each MP, excluding security)

I think it is a good example to set. As PP have said, working extra days at short notice should be compensated for all employees in all industries. I don't think many top business people are providing their time and services for free unless they expressly choose to do so. Why should anyone else?

Expectations such as this disproportionately affect parents (esp. women) who often already are unable to be as flexible as younger colleagues with fewer home responsibilities and feel sidelined as a result.

IIRC, they raised MPs salaries to try and encourage more people from working class backgrounds into politics.

I think it’s a valid question actually and a good example to set

Seriously? You think it's ok to ask for more money because of your life choices? You made the kids, you pay for them.

I gave Jacob Rees Mogg a standing ovation from my chair when he dealt with this question! He was utterly marvellous in his response to the above question.He was so polite as usual but he wiped the floor with him and told him where to go with his request!

Chris Bryant has no children and was asking a valid question. Not all MPs are millionaires with serfs able to pick up the slack.

You made the kids, you pay for them.

If someone on minimum wage gets a Monday to Friday job and their employer tells them they have to work at a weekend for no extra pay and the person needs to find childcare is that ok?

Chris Bryant doesn't have children so I think the point he was making was about working conditions in general.

Seriously? You think it's ok to ask for more money because of your life choices? You made the kids, you pay for them

We live in a society based on the need for economic growth.

You don’t get that by taking an isolationist selfish mindset.

I want everyone to have the opportunity to earn a decent wage and have a good basic standard of living. It benefits us all because:

• More people are then self sufficient and healthier as a result
• more children will grow up and have decent life chances = a great source of our future doctors/scientists/entrepreneurs to make our country better.

@Sallycinammonbangsthedruminthe

I gave Jacob Rees Mogg a standing ovation your sarcasm is showing (at least I hope it is, difficult to tell on print)