What does an ex MP do with the rest of their life?

[stripeyknickersspottysocks]

Someone like Jacqui Smith I imagine will be fine and will get some well paid job for some company or quango where she doesn't really have to do much. But what about some back bencher who people haven't really heard of? I suppose some may be qualified solicitors and go back to that but my local one who is now out of a job doesn't really have a profession.

Do they get enough of a pension even though she's only in her 40s that she doesn't need to work?

I was wondering this too - and what happens to people who get elected in for the first time?

Do they just jack in their job there and then - or would they have previously given up work when they were chosen by whichever party as the candidate?

And how can they afford to just give up their work when they decide to stand? I would love to be an MP but my full time job which is needed in order to live might just get in the way a little!

I know some candidates manage to run a campaign around their full-time jobs, but it becomes more difficult as it gets towards the election date! They have to find a lot of the funding themselves too.

Does seem very unfair and prohibitive to less wealthy candidates then [naive] - guess that's why the likes of Zac Goldsmith can canvass so effectively?

Zac Goldsmith was saying today that the other candidate in his area actually spent more money on their campaign than Zac spent on his.

I can't find any info out on MP's redundency deals, only pension info I can find is for people who have been an MP for 20+ years. I'm interested in people who only manage 4 or 5 years and find themselves out of work today.

I think they get a 'resettlement grant' and a generous pension... and they've been able to get their houses done up and food etc paid for while they were MPs of course. I don't have too much sympathy.