Independent MPs

[onlyconnect]

Am I the only one feeling really hopeful for the first time in ages?
I know it's very difficult in practice to start a new party and when it comes to winning elections almost impossible to get anywhere. But just at the moment I have hope!
Almost everyone I know would like a government that is socially liberal, believes in some intervention, strong public services, some redistribution but is way off being a full-on socialist and wants economic freedom. The most controversial part is that for me it needs to be pro- European, which they will be but obviously this is more divisive. I know there are people with views that don't fall into this camp but I think it reflects the biggest shared political vision at the moment and it feels woefully unrepresented.
If these MPs form a party I'm going to join and do what I can to help build them up.

But you don't need to pay for somewhere to stay that cost is 100% recoverable through expenses.

Since I got no answer, the pension details are as follows:

MPs are on a final salary pension based on 1/40th of annual remuneration. It is currently payable after the age of 65 (rising to 67 in coming years) to those who have ceased to be MPs and may be limited by other pensions obtained elsewhere.

The average MPs tenure is two terms, or ten years, after which they can expect to receive one-quarter of final salary.

And I'm not sure it's true that most MPs have degrees in politics. They seem (rightly) to have all sorts of backgrounds.
The lower the salary the more likely it is that politics will once more be open only to those who have their own incomes.
Something that does worry me is the rise of the professional politician like Cameron, Corbyn, the Millibands. I think politicians are better equipped if they've worked in another field.

They could have two heads, halitosis and an IQ of 1 I will still vote for them given the chance.

Well, one is Anne Soubry the hideous vile woman, so you essentially have your wish!

In the 2017 Parliament:

29% privately educated. (Compared to 7% of the population) This is the lowest it has ever been. 45% of Tory Mps, 16% of Labour.
Over 10% of the privately educated MPs went to Eton.
87% University graduates. 24% Oxbridge.

The "Politics Degree" reference may be to David Cameron's and Haroled Wilson's Oxford PPE.
(Cambridge has no politics department of any standing.)

Tony Blair has an English degree. Theresa May is a Geographer. Gordon Brown has a History PhD. Vince Cable is a Dr of Economics.

The most common qualification is and always has been in Law. (And you would hope so?)

...And Margaret Thatcher was chemist. She invented Angel Delight. (Sort of...)

I thought it was Mr Whippy soft ice cream?
Mmmm I want one now!

Mrs. Thatcher was also a lawyer.

We never seem to have a shortage of people wanting to be politicians. If we allowed a bit of market forces to creep in we could cut costs.