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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Matt Hancock getting paid for two jobs

40 replies

MrsDoyle351 · 08/11/2022 06:09

The former health secretary will be a late addition to the ITV show, which returns to Australia this year and will star Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott, ex-rugby star Mike Tindall and singer Boy George, among others.

The Tory chief whip said Mr Hancock's participation on the show while Parliament was sitting was "serious enough" to warrant suspension.

When MPs have the whip suspended, they are kicked out of the party within Parliament, but remain an MP and continue to be paid.

Okay I know this is being discussed ad infinitum but really WTAF??? What's the point of suspending him when he's still getting paid FFS.

I'm sure my boss would be delighted and allow me to take a few weeks off - when supposed to be working - and get paid somewhere else. Erm no - apparently that's called fraud when I do it.

Sick to death of one rule for them and one rule for us. Utter cunts.

OP posts:
Mummieslncorporated · 08/11/2022 06:19

I get paid for two jobs.

I can even take time off from one and get paid for it while working the other one.

There are much more important political issues to get worried up about imo.

x2boys · 08/11/2022 06:26

MrsDoyle351 · 08/11/2022 06:09

The former health secretary will be a late addition to the ITV show, which returns to Australia this year and will star Euro 2022 winner Jill Scott, ex-rugby star Mike Tindall and singer Boy George, among others.

The Tory chief whip said Mr Hancock's participation on the show while Parliament was sitting was "serious enough" to warrant suspension.

When MPs have the whip suspended, they are kicked out of the party within Parliament, but remain an MP and continue to be paid.

Okay I know this is being discussed ad infinitum but really WTAF??? What's the point of suspending him when he's still getting paid FFS.

I'm sure my boss would be delighted and allow me to take a few weeks off - when supposed to be working - and get paid somewhere else. Erm no - apparently that's called fraud when I do it.

Sick to death of one rule for them and one rule for us. Utter cunts.

Most people get paid whilst they are suspended as they are being investigated for something .
Its not really two jobs is it ,its like him getting a fee for for opening a supermarket etc.

Original poster
MrsDoyle351 · 08/11/2022 06:30

@Mummieslncorporated

Jeeze - I'm obviously in the wrong job. Do you work in the public sector?

That's really my problem with it - as tax payers are funding his MP wages.

And what about the people who voted him in for West Suffolk? It's a matter of principle and it stinks that people seem to blithely accept it as not being of much importance.

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsDoyle351 · 08/11/2022 06:34

Its not really two jobs is it ,its like him getting a fee for for opening a supermarket etc.

Oh - okay - well that's all right then Confused

Tory apologists out and about early today.

He's not actually opening a supermarket though - is he? He's going to Australia for a few weeks when he should be sitting in Parliament and working for his constituency.

OP posts:
VillanellesCoat · 08/11/2022 06:35

I’m with you OP. This must surely be the shortest investigation in the history of investigations. Cut and dried case!

x2boys · 08/11/2022 06:36

MrsDoyle351 · 08/11/2022 06:34

Its not really two jobs is it ,its like him getting a fee for for opening a supermarket etc.

Oh - okay - well that's all right then Confused

Tory apologists out and about early today.

He's not actually opening a supermarket though - is he? He's going to Australia for a few weeks when he should be sitting in Parliament and working for his constituency.

Why do you even care?
Is he your MP ?,do you even watch the show?

UnstableCarHouse · 08/11/2022 06:36

He’s had the whip suspended by the Conservative Party, meaning he no longer sits as a Conservative MP. However, he’s still an MP and the Conservative Party don’t pay his salary.

I agree he should be ashamed of his conduct. If you want to be a media star and not an MP, then step down as the latter. However, I can’t honestly get that worked up about it.

the80sweregreat · 08/11/2022 06:38

It's bad, but the apologetic people on here go to show how our politicians manage to get away with the things they do as people will find excuses for them not doing the right things.
He may well be giving his fee to charity , but if I were one of of his constituents I'd be unhappy that he is away from his desk to do some self promotion for his book whilst making himself look a tit doing silly trails

the80sweregreat · 08/11/2022 06:38

Trials rather

x2boys · 08/11/2022 06:39

Nadine Dorries did the same
And George Galloway pretended to be Rula Lenska ,s cat in celebrity big brother.

Arnaquer · 08/11/2022 06:43

I think it's a disgrace. He's a public servant as am I. I am paid by the public to do my job as is he. I dint understand how he can just swam off and do this, I certainly couldn't..

Original poster
MrsDoyle351 · 08/11/2022 06:47

Why do you even care?

Oh well - who knows .

Maybe the real question is why don't you even care??

OP posts:
VillanellesCoat · 08/11/2022 06:48

x2boys · 08/11/2022 06:39

Nadine Dorries did the same
And George Galloway pretended to be Rula Lenska ,s cat in celebrity big brother.

Oh blimey I’d forgotten about the George Galloway thing 🤢

EtonMusk · 08/11/2022 06:49

It's not "just like opening a supermarket" because he will be away from his desk and caseload for an extended period (not sure how long the series is?) . There is no one taking his place in Parliament to vote on important issues and there is no one in his constituency to act for constituents in need, pulling strings of their behalf. It's a more a teacher taking a second job and being away from their class for a time to carry it out. I would take a pretty dim view of if, if he were my MP.

I also think that with his recent cabinet minister history, especially one who controversially presided over so much sickness, sadness and death, it's undignified and inappropriate to be taking part in this kind of light entertainment programme.

Bramblejoos · 08/11/2022 06:50

He is getting his MPs wage and should earn 200,000 minimum (could be much more). Heard this on the news yesterday. I think he said he'd give 20,000 to a charity.

Will everyone please vote him out.

DinosApple · 08/11/2022 06:56

I'm one of his constituents OP.
What I am hoping is that Matt Hancock gets booted out of the Conservatives permanently. (No idea of how it works in practice though.)

He wouldn't get voted in again if he was standing alone, as this area is traditionally a very safe Conservative seat. And no one would think 'what a great job MH's done' and vote him back in on his own merit and personality.

That said I never vote Conservative anyway, so ideally this will help their voters feel disgruntled enough to try an alternative!

SirMingeALot · 08/11/2022 07:06

He gets paid for being an MP, not for being a Tory MP. The party don't pay his wage and can't actually stop him being an MP. Only his constituents can do that. And much as I disdain the Tories, they've made the right decision here. I do hope his constituents do the rest, when they get the opportunity.

Sparklfairy · 08/11/2022 07:17

EtonMusk · 08/11/2022 06:49

It's not "just like opening a supermarket" because he will be away from his desk and caseload for an extended period (not sure how long the series is?) . There is no one taking his place in Parliament to vote on important issues and there is no one in his constituency to act for constituents in need, pulling strings of their behalf. It's a more a teacher taking a second job and being away from their class for a time to carry it out. I would take a pretty dim view of if, if he were my MP.

I also think that with his recent cabinet minister history, especially one who controversially presided over so much sickness, sadness and death, it's undignified and inappropriate to be taking part in this kind of light entertainment programme.

Apparently he will have access to a laptop and phone for his "constituency work" while in the jungle.

Defeats the point of the show being cut off from the outside world, friends, family and affair partners, I'm sure he'll only do essential work on it though Hmm

in any case, the public will make sure he gets all the trials he's not excluded from (water based, he has trenchfoot), so he's hardly "swanned off".

UthredofBattenberg · 08/11/2022 07:19

I'm with you OP. He's not my local MP, but if he were, I'd be pissed off that he's buggered off to the jungle instead of dealing with all the issues he'd be voted in to sort for us.

Still, hopefully he'll be voted for plenty of bushtucker trials. Might even watch the show to see that!

SirMingeALot · 08/11/2022 07:21

UthredofBattenberg · 08/11/2022 07:19

I'm with you OP. He's not my local MP, but if he were, I'd be pissed off that he's buggered off to the jungle instead of dealing with all the issues he'd be voted in to sort for us.

Still, hopefully he'll be voted for plenty of bushtucker trials. Might even watch the show to see that!

That's a given!

User98866 · 08/11/2022 07:23

My local Tory MP is suspended for allegations of sex crimes against 2 women, taking dodgy money from a very questionable Russian, and doing coke. He’s ‘recovering’ (hiding) in a private facility. Hasn’t been seen or heard from for months and Still taking the MPs salary, whilst his wife is still paid as his secretary. They are doing absolutely nothing for approx 120k of taxpayers money. A we worry about benefits cheats. At least Hancock is ‘working’ I suppose Hmm

SirMingeALot · 08/11/2022 07:24

Sparklfairy · 08/11/2022 07:17

Apparently he will have access to a laptop and phone for his "constituency work" while in the jungle.

Defeats the point of the show being cut off from the outside world, friends, family and affair partners, I'm sure he'll only do essential work on it though Hmm

in any case, the public will make sure he gets all the trials he's not excluded from (water based, he has trenchfoot), so he's hardly "swanned off".

Show quote history

He's an essential worker!

BonesOfWhatYouBelieve · 08/11/2022 07:26

I think he's knob, and I think the Tories are awful but Hancock still being an MP isn't their fault. They can remove him from the party but there is no mechanism to have him removed as an MP for this, or to stop his salary.

I'd be in favour of a rule that prevented MPs doing things like this, or going on holiday etc, while parliament is sitting. I don't like that they can just do whatever while they're supposed to be working for their constituents and the only recourse is to vote them out in a few years time. They should be required to be in the country and available when parliament is sitting (obviously with the exception of trips taken in an official capacity).

Feysriana · 08/11/2022 07:29

Yanbu. This is Matt “Everyone must stay 2 metres apart at work except me cos I wanna screw my assistant” Hancock.

He’s getting paid as an MP while not doing MP duties and also getting paid for a second job. He says he wants to reach voters but if that was so he’d donate his fee to charity. This is just about Hancock’s political career being dead so he’s bunking off while still getting paid

For anyone who despises Hancock I invite them to watch the clio of Rishi Sunak arriving in Downing St, he shakes hands / hugs everyone except Hancock, who he pretends not to see. Brilliant.

MushMonster · 08/11/2022 07:29

I think we should invite more of his MP friends there ; Boris, Liz... all the rest what a beautiful reunion! And then just leave them there!
I am fully against MPs being paid for being an MP and any other job they do. Against them getting a huge amount of money when they leave- see Liz Truss case!