{"id":21424,"date":"2013-07-01T17:44:38","date_gmt":"2013-07-01T16:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/?p=21424"},"modified":"2013-07-01T17:44:38","modified_gmt":"2013-07-01T16:44:38","slug":"i-want-the-right-pay-for-mps-but-lets-be-clear-i-want-it-for-everyone-else-that-means-getting-rid-of-mps-who-impose-pay-freezes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taxresearch.org.uk\/Blog\/2013\/07\/01\/i-want-the-right-pay-for-mps-but-lets-be-clear-i-want-it-for-everyone-else-that-means-getting-rid-of-mps-who-impose-pay-freezes\/","title":{"rendered":"I want the right pay for MPs. But let’s be clear, I want it for everyone else. That means getting rid of MPs who impose pay freezes."},"content":{"rendered":"

I've done rather more\u00a0interviews\u00a0than I\u00a0expected\u00a0today on the subject of MP's pay<\/a> - and could have done more if I could have\u00a0reached\u00a0studios.<\/p>\n

My point has been a\u00a0consistent\u00a0one: we are under paying MPs. The result is - as is far too obvious - that we are getting a class of politicians who all too often come from\u00a0privileged\u00a0backgrounds, go to\u00a0Oxford, \u00a0move to a think tank, are supported by their parents, go into parliament, and have never once been exposed to real life\u00a0beyond\u00a0the Westminster bubble. No wonder we have such\u00a0lousy\u00a0politicians doing such a poor\u00a0job\u00a0for us -\u00a0including\u00a0imposing\u00a0austerity and pay freezes when both are the\u00a0absolute\u00a0opposite of what we need.<\/p>\n

I have said I want MP's paid \u00a380,000 -\u00a0about\u00a0the average salary of a public sector chief\u00a0executive\u00a0- because I want\u00a0people\u00a0who have that sort of\u00a0experience\u00a0to go to parliament to help make the\u00a0decisions\u00a0this country needs. And I want them to do that job and nothing else - so that outside work and fees would simply be banned.<\/p>\n

And, as I just said on Radio London, if MPs took that rise now - especially without banning outside work - I\u00a0know\u00a0that people will be angry, and rightly so if those very same people were\u00a0responsible\u00a0for imposing unnecessary\u00a0austerity\u00a0on the country, pay freezes on people and benefit cuts on millions. Of course they will be angry.<\/p>\n

But anger is the precursor for change. There has to be that anger. People have to know first of all that at least some (too many, but by no means all) members of the current parliament are out of touch with reality and what real lives are like. And\u00a0second\u00a0to ensure we get the\u00a0politicians\u00a0we need who do know about real life people need to become\u00a0politically\u00a0engaged and they also have to fight for their own rights for\u00a0decent\u00a0pay, jobs and a social\u00a0security\u00a0system we can be proud of. Whinging and saying it's not fair won't solve that. Only action will.<\/p>\n

I defend fair pay for MPs. But I want it for everyone else too. And to get the chance to say that several times today was worthwhile. I hope some people listend and realise change is\u00a0open\u00a0to them to bring about.\u00a0Because\u00a0I believe it is. And that means whilst\u00a0I want the right pay for MPs I want it for everyone else too and \u00a0that means getting rid of MPs who impose pay freezes. My hope is others will\u00a0realise\u00a0that.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve done rather more\u00a0interviews\u00a0than I\u00a0expected\u00a0today on the subject of MP’s pay – and could have done more if I could have\u00a0reached\u00a0studios. My point has been
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