observer Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 - on the Westminister front?! While MPs breath a sigh of relief, as they leave on their summer break, and other news takes over the front page, the Telegraph seem to have given up on reminding us of absurd expense claims - unreported by the media, has been the disclosure of MPs "second jobs" and the obscene amounts they are getting for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 And some will no doubt justify an increase in an MPs salary by quoting the salary that they can command in their second job...or is that first job, with being an MP the second job....and generous pension provider. PS The chap I'm supporting has stated that being an MP will be his only paid employment...nice if all the others did the same. PPS Just noticed the following article which is worth a read: http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2009/07/britains-political-club-costs-us-485m.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Perhaps Dave could insist on all his MPs having just one job - IE as an MP?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 He could indeed. And being politicians I guess there would be a "debate" as to the definition of a job. I suppose that the salary paid to an MP could be reduced where they have other paid income, and in some cases they would draw a nil salary where their other job (s) pay more than an MP's salary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 The arguement being used in favour of "second jobs"; is that they provide "experience" of "the real world" - not sure a retainer for infrequent meetings of a company board, is "the real world"?! What perhaps would be usefull is; if they had to have at least 10 years experience "in the real world" PRIOR to becoming an MP; thus ending the practise of naive careerists entering politics direct from Uni. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I agree Obs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 I'll drink to that Obs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 As our MPs are on holiday for about 20 weeks in the year (plus another 64 days for the weekends in the weeks when Parliament is sitting) there is plenty of time in the year for them to have jobs outside Westminster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoffrey Settle Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Not sure about his holiday entitlement but the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson ex MP, is being paid ?250,000/yr for his 2nd job. He claims that this is okay because he simply knocks off an article during breakfast for the Telegraph. He confessed this during his 'Hard Talk' interview with BBC 24 News. I wonder if that was a freeby or did he get paid to talk about being paid and afterall he no longer is an MP so Cameron's rules don't apply to him. I wonder how much Gary owes us all - nothing - because we scribe for the love of Warrington Worldwide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted July 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Seems to me, that all politicians once elected are "public property"; therfore their thoughts and opinions are also "public property" - thus not for sale - but free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Kennedy Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 I always give mine on here...freely...and in my own name...despite the difficulty and problems that causes me...what a martyr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asperity Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 Cue violins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter T Posted July 15, 2009 Report Share Posted July 15, 2009 I was thinking of tissues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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