MPs’ pay: let’s add some small print

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I did an interview on the subject of MP's pay on LBC Radio last night. I think it is available on catch-up here, but there might be an app to download.

I was asked whether I thought MPs's pay when set at more than £90,000 a year was fair and I suggested it was. I suggested I might even consider it going a bit higher, but in either case I thought there were some very serious conditions to be attached to that pay.

First, there should be no side hustles. In cases like those of doctors where skills had to be maintained allowance could be made, but these were exceptional. Otherwise the pay was for the whole job and nothing else was allowed.

Second, freebies must be very seriously constrained. Tickets to a local football match, theatre or community event worth less than, maybe, £100 might be acceptable, but must be declared. Nothing else should be. And gifts should be barred. And if an event is necessary for parliamentary work, e.g. visiting a firm, then that must also be declared.

Third, private gifts to MPs offices must end, and political parties must not be allowed to accept gifts of more than £5,000 from a person per annum. Corporate gifts should be totally barred. Trade unions and other organisations must be able to demonstrate specific named member consent to any donations. State funding of political parties must begin.

Fourth, MPs must have a legal duty to their constituents and not to a political party. The draconian rule of the whips must come to an end.

Fifth, this duty to a place must be reinforced by proportional representation from multi-member constituencies.

Sixth, parliament must enter the twenty first century. Digital voting must be required to speed up its work, for example.

And seventh, MPs must undergo continuing professional education to keep their jobs in:

- Ethics
- Parliamentary procedure
- Law
- Macroeconomics

I think that entirely reasonable.

Thoughts?


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