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

[lulumumoftwo]

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?

They can't bring the Human Rights Act into this, being an MP doesn't mean you can't have a family, what are you on about?

Does anyone know how much time MPs actually need to spend in London?

No I would not take on any employment with this housing arrangement, OP -- not with my family situation. I'd be a bit about people with families who did think it was okay to ditch their family like this.

My dad used to work in London and rent a one bedroom flat - he also paid for that out of his own wages, he wasn't given expenses for it. When we used to go and visit we would take sleeping bags and sleep on the living room floor.

If the MPs don't like it they can resign and find employment elsewhere.

The problem is that the women who were considering it probably WILL decide that they will find employment somewhere else. Where does making it impossible for a female MP to have a vaguely normal family life get us?

It gets us represented by middle aged men.

This is not like other jobs because we want to have a representative parliament

I like the idea of MPs having a one-bed in London and their main house in their constituency.
Our MP has her main residence in London and educates her son there which shows how much she loves her constituency/constituents. Not!

"They can't bring the Human Rights Act into this, being an MP doesn't mean you can't have a family, what are you on about?
" wrote Darcymum

Read my post properly before posting rude comments.

The Human Rights Act gives everyone (including MPs) the right to a family life - so that's the card they'll paly to get an increase in soze of flat.

Got it now?

I disagree. They have the right to a family life but that doesn't mean that they have to cohabit 100% of the time. I can't remember the family of any of the armed services insisting on being housed near the front line with their serving spouses. Or what about civvies who get seconded abroad for months at a time?

MPs get family time at the weekends and the recesses. They are not going to win any friends if they try to complain that they only see their family in the recesses - the rest of us only get 4 weeks holidays a year, not 20 weeks!

'If only those serving in Iraq or Afghanistan had a one bed flat each'..yeas, my db would like that as he has to share a two man cabin.

The solution to this is simple really. Buy a block of flats. Convert it to bedsits with a wet room. Have a computer terminal, TV point, phone point, desk and easy chair plus bed in the bedroom. Laundry rooms on the landing. Food is taken communally in the equivalent of the in military terms, the mess (canteen with service). Have a bar. Meals and drinks have to be paid for once a month out of your pocket. The cost of the accommodation is free if you are married and maintain a home elsewhere that is not commuting distance. You go home at weekends and holidays. Welcome to the lives of the Armed Forces.

'The Human Rights Act gives everyone (including MPs) the right to a family life' not if you are HM Forces though!