To think MPs are underpaid

[Donotpanicoknowpanic]

Okay hear me out on this

If you want high quality people you need to pay them

If not the best most intelligent people will pursue career's in business and we will be left with people making second rate decisions which are incredibly important for the UK

The UK needs to make the right decisions on a whole host of important topics (not just the NHS and benefits)

But policy's on AI, transitions to green energy encouraging businesses to invest in the UK etc

These are serious topics that require a vast knowledge to understand

If you want to encourage people who have that knowledge to be an MP and help make those decisions

You need to pay them the rate they would get from businesses who also want them

(I am not an MP and will never run as one so no one please say I'm trying to get a pay rise)

They're paid hell of a lot more than a police officer or a member of the armed forces, both also very full on jobs. I'd say the death rate in both those professions is far higher than what it is for MPs.

The pay isn't the problem, its the lack of entrance qualifications.

I agree.

But, going off on a tangent, god knows who would want to be an MP these days.

Death threats are commonplace and what happened to Jo Cox, David Amess and Andrew Pennington trying to protect MP Nigel Jones - just terrible

I would say the risks of being a member of the armed forces, and even a police officer, have always been there and. Part of the job for the military you could say @namechangeGOT . It isn't really for an MP.

I know that but they have to spend most week in London so need two homes. Unless they stay in a hotel. I’m saying there should be a maximum they can claim for that

Totally agree, OP. They’re ridiculously underpaid. Basic salary should be £120k+.

Ah, this is my unpopular opinion!

I agree, OP: I earn more than an MP and my job isn't as important.

If we don't want to create a 'politician class' populated by wealthy, mostly unsuitable people, then we need to make the role attractive and sustainable.

Yes, underpaid. Loads of NHS managers are paid more.

They are more than fairly paid for having won a popularity contest.
Increasing pay to attract better qualified MPs isn’t going to work because it’s not like a job interview where the best candidate is selected.

I agree.

It isn't enough to attract anyone whos had a senior career in many other areas.

Eg tax & economics. People working in these fields are concentrated in london, for those with 15-20 years experience they will be earning £120-£150k minimum.

Totally agree. And for Ministers /the PM, it's even worse - their salaries are woeful, considering the level of responsibility they have. If we want to attract the best people into politics, we have to pay them more.

OK.

OK.

I think so @Donotpanicoknowpanic and not only that, we’re heading towards a time where very few people will step up to be an MP. Abuse on social media, entitlement rants in person at local surgeries and quite frankly a disregard for community and purpose from an entire generation who take more notice of influencers than anyone in their own neighbourhood, I think we’re going to be in trouble.

They don't need 'vast' knowledge; certainly many of them don't have it, and anyway they rely on briefings.

Give them the same percentage pay rises as they give everyone else. We are apparently facing a black hole in our finances.

I'd pay them more, but I'd say no second jobs at all, and I'd probably strengthen the current restrictions on ministers going into lobbying after leaving parliament.

I think many are grossly overpaid if we were to look at pay for performance.

Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, and others should have been paid minimum wage.

Yes. They rely on civil servants and experts who do the donkey work. Having said that, I do respect the ones who do actually keep themselves informed and they probably do deserve a decent salary but there are others who seem to work part-time.

I think, as in many jobs, you get the ones who work hard and are engaged with the job, and the ones who seem to milk the system and e.g. can't be bothered to turn up for a vote. The onus is on voters to pick the best candidate, which could be problematic depending on whether that person represents your party of choice. Certainly round here the best person didn't win in the previous election because she wasn't the Tory candidate, who was a joke. (That changed at the last election, thankfully.)

I think that's probably true, OP.

I'd tend to increase the pay but tighe up expense claims - really just travel and accommodations for those who live far away.

I actually rather like the idea of having housing in London provided, actually, for those who need it. They could all live in an apartment block together.

Also - it is an issue for many MPs that they are leaving a secure job for an insecure job. There isn't much to be done about that, but taking a pay cut in the meantime could certainly make that seem like an irresponsible choice.

I think the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and their opposite numbers should be paid more.

Possibly they should increase the extra money given for sitting on some scrutiny committees.

However, being a back bench MP is basically running a small office, turning up to vote (usually in-line with the whip) and maybe turn up at a village fete. I think £90k is sufficient for that.

As for them all living in the same apartment block, maybe think of the security implications of that and how much it would cost to mitigate them.

I don't think salary necessarily comes into it. The nature of politics focuses on presenting things in a very black or white way. If you're an expert in green energy for example, you might be of the opinion that a certain form of energy production has great potential. However, you're not an expert in economics, so you're not going to stake your reputation on suggesting on what timescale it will take to become a financially viable option, as there's too many variables. The higher up the political ladder you look, the more you'll find people who are simply power hungry, rather than genuinely wanting to improve the standard of living for the average citizen.

While I agree, I think the people attracted to politics are the ones who put themselves forward because the world will be "unquestionably better if I'm the one telling everyone else what to do". You see that a lot in work places - the thick-skinned, overconfident, clueless management class.

The people who would probably make much better MPs would never stand for other reasons, so low pay isn't a deterrent.

The best lack all ambition and the worst are full of passionate intensity etc...