to think the PM should be paid more?

[chomalungma]

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8750253/Subdued-Boris-Johnson-worries-money-salary-shrunk-150k.html

This is a tricky one. I loathe Boris Johnson - but this is about any PM. Not just him.

Yes, they get the flat at Downing Street. It's rent free. He doesn't have commuting costs.

But this is the top job in the country. Massive responsibility. Lots of hours of work.

Should the PM be paid more? (any PM BTW)

@VinylDetective

I’d earn about 1/4 of what I earn now as an MP. Why would I do that unless I have other sources of income?

You’re assuming everyone’s motivated by money. I don’t want people who are running the country. I want people who are motivated by making a difference and serving their country.

Yeah and that all sounds very idyllic. But doesn’t mean they’ve got the skill set. (And I’m not suggesting Boris has either, by the way).

What skill set? I want integrity, morals and decency. Those tend to be incompatible with motivation by money.

High wage does not automatically equal highly skilled, low wage does not automatically equal lowly skilled, that’s a complete fallacy.

@LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett Could Marina be earning more than him?

@Lemonylemony

I’d earn about 1/4 of what I earn now as an MP. Why would I do that unless I have other sources of income? Honestly, and I’m not meaning this as a personal dig - you do you - but I’m not sure I want my MPs to be people who would prioritise being very rich over following a calling to serve their community, to be honest. They still earn a very high wage in comparison to the average of their constituents.

I’m not disagreeing with you. But it’s really not a big salary in London (I’m talking more about a basic MP salary rather than PM, but they all have to start as an MP). Although appreciate not all MPs are giving up London jobs.

I used to work with a guy who was totally passionate about politics and stood in the general election a few years back. He was late 20s at the time if I remember correctly. Yes he was young but he would have been a very dedicated MP for his constituency. He didn’t win and said he wouldn’t stand again for a few years because he needed to earn a decent amount to save up for a stint as an MP. The other thing to remember is that being an MP isn’t a 9-5 job and unless you’re a London MP involves a lot of staying away/ late travel home. So if you have a family you probably need either a partner who can totally pick up the family slack or meet to be able to afford decent child care.

The financial rewards associated with being prime minister tend to arrive after leaving office. Not only is the pension amazing, but these people can also rake in literally millions on the Ivy League lecture circuit and in various 'consultancy' roles and other side jobs that involve very little actual work. For example, at one point George Osborne had 6 different side jobs on the go, providing him with an income several times his chancellor's salary (and this was while he was still a backbench MP). Boris' annual earnings will increase massively after he's left number 10....whether that be next month or in 10 years' time.

Doesn't seem right that people who aren't the prime minister can earn so much more money for doing things that have much less relevance to our daily lives.....nonetheless, would you vote for Boris to receive a payrise? I wouldn't.

Is his financée working? If not, do they need a ft nanny and if so, her income could help support this.
Without housing costs, it’s a great salary. Maybe not “supporting multiple children at Eton“ great, but that’s hardly a necessity.

But it’s really not a big salary in London (I’m talking more about a basic MP salary rather than PM, but they all have to start as an MP)

They also claim expenses for just about everything - all travel, a pied a terre if they’re based outside London, all constituency expenses, any food consumed outside their home, the bars and restaurants in the Commons are heavily subsidised. As a pp said, for most MPs, it’s far more than most of their constituents earn.

It's obviously an ok salary if you don't pay rent/mortgage

He's always going on that single parents shouldn't have kids they can't afford - if he can't afford his six/seven.... maybe he should listen to himself 🧐

Lots of hours of work
In his case this isn’t very accurate 🙄

I think to be fair that even if his cock actually FELL OFF I'd still struggle to raise any sympathy for him

No, I don't think he should be paid more. If he were in a normal job he would have been fired for incompetence. Never would have even passed his probationary period.

No, but perhaps we could consider a performance based bonus, not that that would help Boris of course.

@LaurieFairyCake
🤣🤣🤣🤣

Sorry, what? He has 150k a year which is more or less disposable income given that he can probably claim most of his living costs back as expenses and has no rent or mortgage to pay.

tiredanddangerous

I think they should have performance related pay. If they don't follow through on their promises they get fuck all. Wonder how much boris would get then.

What a brilliant idea! It would save the country a fortune.

Blair, brown, major, may all did the job without moaning about being underpaid ffs

£80k is a big salary anywhere. It’s over twice the average London salary (£37k). Plenty of us live here earning way less than an MP does, working long, non-standard hours, keeping the city going.

Oh you nasty lot, of course he needs more money - those super injunctions don’t come cheap

The PM doesn’t just get a salary though.
He gets expenses paid, he gets an office paid, he gets security and accommodation.
The issue is that other jobs are over paid.

That £150k is spending money. By the time you include all the perks the package (including the gold plated pension) probably tops out at closer to £400-£500k, plus when he leaves he’ll walk into work paying millions. Ultimately, you don’t do the job for the cash. You do it because you want to serve your country. Boris just isn’t coping well with that or the deferred gratification.

I thought they'd be on double that really for the massive responsibility, what do they do once they are no longer prime minister for a living and housing?

Trust me, no former PM ends up destitute. Universally they do very well indeed financially on leaving office.

Considering how little work he seems to do I think he’d be best to hush up or someone might ask for a rebate

Boris is rich. He hardly relies on his salary, does he? This is some kind of strategy to make him seem relatable.

Come on, look at all the benefits on top of the salary! Plus, he’s incredibly wealthy. This story is not about how much he earns, it’s Gove's team briefing against him so he comes across as even worse than he already has.