AIBU to think MP's have too much time off?

[Abigail69]

As always, MP's seem to be away from work for months and a lot longer than any other profession

They return to work next Week. The country is in turmoil/NHS etc etc

It's not just the current PM's fauly it's all of them as it has always been like this

AIBU thinks they have too much time off, look at Mr Hancock's time away - how many other professions would allow you weeks away like that and still claim you are working as he was which is fair enough as those that voted for accpeted that but its odd

There are a few nurses in the Commons

Maria Caulfield (Conservative, Lewes) was a nurse at the Royal Marsden before becoming an MP. Nadine Dorries was also a nurse.

So you mean you'd do what everyone here is telling you the MP's are doing behind the scenes @Abigail69?

The system needs overhauling. When it all started out, being an mp was a 2nd job and for many it still is. Personally I would like to see it come under a more set timetable, pubs shut, wine cellar sold off, expenses cut and plans for a new building looked at. We don't get to drink at work, we have to buy our supermarket meal deal or make our own lunch.
Time to modernise.

I think that those MPs in safe seats don’t have to spend as much time wooing the electorate. The only people here that seem to communicate with the constituents are local councillors. The MP doesn’t live in the constituency and I’ve never heard or seen any communication from him. I can’t say whether he works hard or not. He’s invisible.

This. People seem to expect them to spend all their time in The House, but if they did that, when would they see their constiuents and deal with local issues. I worked in our MPs local office for a while and I remember him always working much longer hours than we did as paid staff.

Great post.
Perhaps MP's should be barred from having a second job, ie all new MP's or from the next GE.

Then there should be a public dairy after the event one about their working hours and a summary of what they did, ie accountability for their time just like many workers have to do

Since 2016, there have been 70 murders per million people in England and Wales - so a homicide rate over that period of 0.007%.

The homicide rate for MPs in England and Wales in that period was 2 per 575 people - or 3,478 per million, or 0.3%.

Think what you will about MPs - in my experience some are great constituency MPs who make a real difference and work incredibly hard, some are a total waste of space - but please don't pretend they run the same risks, threats and intrusions as anyone else doing a job just for doing a job.

Agree, and there needs to be accountability for MPs that don't do their job, including losing their job if standards are breached, just as in any other place of work.

Modernisation should include providing proper security to MPs where there have been credible threats, and perhaps in general at surgeries. Getting rid of a lot of the expenses waste and the wine cellar might help pay for that.

One of the problems currently is that there seems to be no consequence for MPs, particularly in safe seats, who do nothing or MPs who essentially accept what most people would consider bribes, whilst some, hard working MPs are genuinely doing the job as they should and taking on much higher risks in their surgeries. It doesn't seem to pay to be a decent MP who actually tries to help constituents.

Great idea about accountability for time spent working that constituents can see - this would also show those MPs doing a lot of lobbying work compared to constituency work.

That would make VERY interesting reading (a bit like expenses reports!).

They have to reapply for their jobs every 4-5 years and if they are rejected by voters there is no right to appeal.

None of us have to vote for bad local MPs.

But we all know that safe seat MPs can get away with anything pretty much.
Marginal MPs, that's a different matter, they can be got rid of if rubbish, but many MPs are not in that position.

But what I was really talking about was people doing borderline illegal things within the 4-5 year term that in other jobs would have you fired outright, and getting to keep their well paid jobs. Sexual harassment, bribes, crimes. Dodgy contracts.

I'd like to think our useless Boris groupie Tory MP's seat isn't safe.

My gripe is how unaccountable MPs are. How they can do the bare minimum in their constituencies and never get pulled up on it. (I know they can be voted in/out by constituents but it's i frequent and rare).

Also, pay should be linked to HoC sittings. MPs should be there for all issues being debated unless they have good reason. I makes me sick to see debates with a handful of MPs. Why should they get paid if they're not there?

We brought in legislation in 1839 to pay them so they could STOP having other jobs though. It's NOT acceptable for the tole to be than 100 percent of their focus

They not off. My local mp has been working vvv hard to sort a local issue all through Christmas. The issue next street to me and he was out there several times with various people in power and people who need it sorted even Christmas Eve. It's been a nightmare but might be sorted now. Certainly able to drive down road now.

Then blame the electorate - because in absolute terms being an MP is more accountable than many other jobs. If voters choose to ignore the behaviour in favour of a party badge then we are making a choice and telling MPs we are ok with their behaviour. That is our responsibility.

MPs they are subject to the law just like anyone else in employment and entitled to be represented and make their case. They have been very late to the game in terms of dealing with issues such as harassment but frankly that isn't unique to Westminster. The NHS has a shocking reputation for bullying and harassment of staff as do many parts of private industry.

I would like to see the bar for recall set lower when an MP is caught with their hands in the till (or in someone's trousers). Bribery/corruption should have to be proven, just like they must be for you and me and if convicted and sentenced they lose the right to sit (not sure if this holds for the Lords - thinking of the Mone case).

Croneyism of the type which helps mates get contracts without a direct bribe but soft benefits - again lower bar for recall but you do need an evidential process. Its an MPs job to help his constituents - nothing wrong with an MP proposing a company from their constituency.

The problem is lack of proper rigour in procurement compounded with abject failure to follow up investigations into companies post covid. I'd like to see more follow up/task forces from HMRC and others into those covid contracts for example and general audit reviews to consider MP recommendations and interests as part of the review process, holding MPs accountable for their recommendations at least to the "name and shame" level.

Reading the posts, there is not a lot anyone can do to get an MP removed other than at election time.

At the very least, they should be stopped from a 2nd job and a post a summary, weekly summary online what they did as an MP

Why should they? They don't answer to us.

Unfortunately they don't seem to answer to anyone. Hence the lack of accountability for use of time, lies, receipt of donations, lies, supporting their mates, lies...

They answer to no one as the above poster said and you are happy with that, but millions are not.

How can anyone realistically do more than one full-time job where you are are expected to many many more hours than in your contract and then have a 2nd/3rd job and go away for weeks at the drop of de hat - EG Boris after he was humiliated out office.