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Original poster

one bed flat for MP's. What about the chidren?

34 replies

lulumumoftwo · 29/03/2010 13:30

what do others think of the announcement today that In future, MPs will be restricted to renting a one-bedroom flat, unless they have a child under the age of five, are a single parent or are caring for a registered disabled adult.

I am asking because we have so few women in parliament, and we should have women from all walks of life.

Is it ok for children to be separated so much from their mothers at aged 5?

And how do you judge if a Mother is a single Mother?, if she get a now partner, do they become responsible for her children several nights a week?

Could you become an MP with this arrangement?

OP posts:
drivinmecrazy · 29/03/2010 13:35

This question was asked in the press conference, the reply was that it is assumed that by 5 children will be attenting school in their constiutency. This is a fair assumption to make.
I don't see how they can provide different rules for female MPs.

Original poster
lulumumoftwo · 29/03/2010 13:44

There could be different rules for all MP's with children?
If I were an MP I would want my children to go to school in London so I could still see them.

OP posts:
MillyMollyMoo · 29/03/2010 13:49

Something had to be done, I'd have put them all in Travel Lodges personally so they've done quite well.

MillyMollyMoo · 29/03/2010 13:51

It's always the same, some greedy bastard ruins it for everyone else and there were plenty of women MP's with their noses in the trough too. Maybe the women's champions should have thought of the consequences for other women when filling out their expenses forms.

gramercy · 29/03/2010 13:52

Hear, hear.

AMumInScotland · 29/03/2010 13:58

I think it's reasonable for MPs to have a family home and a 1-bedroom flat as an "extra" if they need to work between two places. Up to them to decide which to have where, fitting in with needs like schools, other dependants etc.

Original poster
lulumumoftwo · 29/03/2010 14:06

Would YOU be able to live like that though? Because if we need people like us to be properly represented!

OP posts:
Lulumaam · 29/03/2010 14:08

i don/'t want MPs, male or female with younger or odler children, going after as many perks as they can

if they have childrne under 5 and they are an MP they will have to put their child into a full time nursery/nanny etc so not like they would be with their baby/child all day anyway, not if doing their job as an MP fully

AMumInScotland · 29/03/2010 14:08

If they can't then they have to use their salary to set things up how they want, not their expenses. Same as the rest of us!

vesela · 29/03/2010 14:09

yes, I guess if children are over 5 and at school, the assumption is that it's easier to organise childcare in the place where they're at school rather than bringing them with you to London and having a babysitter there. The question of separation is more one of parliamentary hours etc. IMO.

rubyslippers · 29/03/2010 14:11

i agree with Lulumaam

lots of parents work away from their children for all different sorts of reasons WITHOUT the luxury of a second home

MillyMollyMoo · 29/03/2010 14:11

I may well have to live like that next year whilst I'm studying, 4 days in a city flat and going home to my children at weekends.
How many other jobs could you hold zero qualifications and still be awarded a salary of £60k plus expenses and they are still demanding more, they think they are on par with Dr's and dentists and their salaries should reflect that

AMumInScotland · 29/03/2010 14:16

I've just read an article - I think it's important to note that they won't be restricted to renting a one-bedroom flat, they will be restricted to claiming for "£1,450 a month - equivalent to a one bed flat" - so, they can rent a larger flat/house if they need or want to, but will have to cover the difference out of their own pocket.

That sounds fair to me - when my DH had to work away from home for several months, his expenses covered a small place, but not a family home for us all.

Original poster
lulumumoftwo · 29/03/2010 14:20

where is the article?, i think that is fair if they can top up, or indeed choose to spend the money in a less desirable area with an extra bedroom.

What do you think about the single mother issue? When does a boyfriend become the substitute father?

OP posts:
CMOTdibbler · 29/03/2010 14:21

The point is, that if they want to live as a family, they can have their main residence in London (or commutable), and rent a flat in their consituency on expenses.

Sounds perfectly fair to me. They don't live in the real world of allowable expenses as it is - the hoops that HMRC require of everyone else obv don't apply to them !

farmerjones · 29/03/2010 14:23

as someone who is about to live away from the family home for the week, returningon weekends, this is somthing that has been in my mind lots.
I WANT a two bed flat. that way, my kids can come and stay with me during their half term, watching tv etc whilst i am at work during the day, but being able to spend the evening possibly afternoon together. if i live in a one bed flat, or share, then iwont be able to interact with the kids much. nothing to do with male/female. everything to do with parenting. why should the kids of mp#s be deprived in this way?

AMumInScotland · 29/03/2010 14:27

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8592174.stm - this was the article I saw.

It only vaguely mentions that "MPs with children aged under five, single parents with children under 21 and those caring for disabled children and adults will get extra support" - I would think that means if the MP classes themself as a single parent, then they'll be treated as one, even if there is a boyfriend/girlfriend around.

Original poster
lulumumoftwo · 29/03/2010 14:31

I can imagine more scandal as a female MP who says she was a single mum would be scrutinised in her relationships with men!

OP posts:
Original poster
lulumumoftwo · 29/03/2010 14:34

farmerjones, I would agree, MP's are unusual in being required to work in two places, and therefore to live in two places and their children should be able to have a normal family life in two places. Otherwise women just wont put themselves forward and we will continue to be represented by a disproportionally large number of men.

OP posts:
MillyMollyMoo · 29/03/2010 14:39

everything to do with parenting. why should the kids of mp#s be deprived in this way?

What about the children of ordinary citizens who live that way day in day out, should they not get a 2 bedroomed family home so that MP's with a choice in the matter, get a 2nd home that accommodates the odd visit ? That is not good/proper use of public funds. If the children want to visit in the week mummy or daddy can give up their bedroom and sleep on the sofa.

MillyMollyMoo · 29/03/2010 14:41

MP classes themself as a single parent, then they'll be treated as one, even if there is a boyfriend/girlfriend around.

Imagine running that past HMRC tax credits, my husband when he was my boyfriend counted as soon as I was carrying his child despite us not living in the same city 6 nights a week. One rule for them, another rule for the rest of us.

darcymum · 29/03/2010 14:42

I think the new rules sound very reasonable, I would be happy with that if I was an MP, plus the £70k a year. With regard MPs pay they should just peg it to GPs and Headteachers pay.

If only those serving in Iraq or Afghanistan had a one bed flat each.

I'm sounding resentful of MPs, I'm not and actually think they (maybe) are paid to little. Although I have never earned that much and am quite happy with my lot and don't understand why anyone would want a duck house in the first place.

Lulumaam · 29/03/2010 14:47

i don't see how that would work, having a normal life in two places.. less important for the under 5s, but once you get to school age.. which for a lot of children is 4, then what.. you can't have half the time at one school and go to antoher the rest of the time..

lots of parents work away.. armed forces for example.. hey are more in need of more money and support than MPs

ther eare better ways to encourage women into politics than big free houses/flats. not sure what they are, but offering more free perks is not going ot bring hte repsect of the electorate

i would not vote for a woman MP simply because she is a woman, and not one who wants the big free house

AMumInScotland · 29/03/2010 14:58

MillyMollyMoo - that was just my guess about thow they might work the "single parent" question, I haven't seen any detail of this yet.

WetAugust · 31/03/2010 00:31

Plenty of parents have to work away from home - of both sexes

Parliament sits for very few weeks of the year overall - there are very long recesses

Why should I as a tax payer house (and feed) the offspring / partners / elderly parents etc of a serving MP - I don't even do that for the Armed Forces.

But you can bet that they'll play the Human Rights Act - the right to a family life and we'll be straight back to square one housing evry MP and their coterie of hangers-on.