The Last Straw?

[snooky]

http://news.sky.com/story/1432234/jack-straw-suspended-over-cash-for-access

[lord bunberry]

http://news.sky.com/story/1432234/jack-straw-suspended-over-cash-for-access

I doubt anyone is even surprised at this sort of thing anymore. I often wonder if it's the boost to their ego rather than the money they do it for.

[snooky]

I doubt anyone is even surprised at this sort of thing anymore. I often wonder if it's the boost to their ego rather than the money they do it for.
I'll go with the money, 100%.
Oink oink.

[cabbageandribs1875]

pair of shysters, and certainly not the only ones dipping their snouts in the gravy train trough

[Future17]

http://news.sky.com/story/1432234/jack-straw-suspended-over-cash-for-access

The last straw for what/who?

[snooky]

The last straw for what/who?

Who? : The UK government and the opposition MPs ...
What? : Having any credibility or morals.

To add insult to injury, on the news tonight Jack Straw was asked during an interview, "Is the way out of this to just give MP's more pay?"
He replied "Yes ...."

Utterly shameless. :bandit:

[johnbc70]

Maybe I am the only one but I think MPs should earn a higher basic salary - yes £67,000 and expenses is a very decent salary but that is what most middle or lower senior managers can earn in say a Bank. These are people we trust with running the country and yes there is the element of them choosing to be public servants but I think there salary should be higher to reflect the importance of the work they do. Maybe it will also mean less have to resort to looking for alternative sources of income (there will always be some who look for more no matter what you pay them)

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-07-11/how-mps-pay-compares-around-the-world/

[Peevemor]

Maybe I am the only one but I think MPs should earn a higher basic salary - yes £67,000 and expenses is a very decent salary but that is what most middle or lower senior managers can earn in say a Bank. These are people we trust with running the country and yes there is the element of them choosing to be public servants but I think there salary should be higher to reflect the importance of the work they do. Maybe it will also mean less have to resort to looking for alternative sources of income (there will always be some who look for more no matter what you pay them)

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-07-11/how-mps-pay-compares-around-the-world/

I tend to agree, especially for those higher up the ladder. The salaries of the UK prime minister and the president of the USA are nowhere near commensurate with the responsibility and power that goes with the post.

[Speedy]

Maybe I am the only one but I think MPs should earn a higher basic salary - yes £67,000 and expenses is a very decent salary but that is what most middle or lower senior managers can earn in say a Bank. These are people we trust with running the country and yes there is the element of them choosing to be public servants but I think there salary should be higher to reflect the importance of the work they do. Maybe it will also mean less have to resort to looking for alternative sources of income (there will always be some who look for more no matter what you pay them)

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-07-11/how-mps-pay-compares-around-the-world/

I get what you're saying but I'd approach it a different way. Ban the paid contracts and let the MP salary finds its level based on demand/supply.

[Peevemor]

I get what you're saying but I'd approach it a different way. Ban the paid contracts and let the MP salary finds its level based on demand/supply.

In terms of revenue, that's what's been going on.

I think those in senior positions should be paid enough to be beyond temptation, if they feel that this is too much or don't need the money then they could follow Alex Salmond's lead by donating the excess to good causes.

[easty]

Maybe I am the only one but I think MPs should earn a higher basic salary - yes £67,000 and expenses is a very decent salary but that is what most middle or lower senior managers can earn in say a Bank. These are people we trust with running the country and yes there is the element of them choosing to be public servants but I think there salary should be higher to reflect the importance of the work they do. Maybe it will also mean less have to resort to looking for alternative sources of income (there will always be some who look for more no matter what you pay them)

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-07-11/how-mps-pay-compares-around-the-world/

I totally disagree, they make a very decent amount of money. If they wanted to make what top bankers do, then they should have gone into banking. They tend to be well educated, they know what they're getting in to.

We trust them to run our country? Well, actually a lot of the time we don't. Besides, we trust the police to keep us safe, nurses to keep us well, should we bump up thier salaries to match the bankers too? There are probably some dirty policeman out there, taking money in the side to let stuff slide, if we paid them a lot more, maybe they wouldn't? At least the, top, politicians will still be milking the cash cow, as advisors and speakers, long after they retire from politics.

Why is it too much to expect politicians to do the job they're paid to do, for the salary they agreed to do it for?

[ronaldo7]

Seems like we've got too many MP's going by Rifkind's announcement that he spends a lot of his time going for walks and reading books. Maybe we should cut their numbers and share the work load out among the others.

This practice came to light in 1995, and is still going strong today. Time for change.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cashforquestions-mps-suspended-by-commons-1616440.htmlhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2

I think both men have clearly failed to maintain the principles of public life.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-7-principles-of-public-life/the-7-principles-of-public-life--2

[lord bunberry]

If their wages were increased I suspect they'd still be doing this sort of thing.

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

Just been watching Rifkind's performance on SKY as the reporter was trying to speak to him in the street, what an arrogant twat of a man, get into the real world FFS!

[HUTCHYHIBBY]

If their wages were increased I suspect they'd still be doing this sort of thing.

Without a shadow of a doubt.

[snooky]

Just been watching Rifkind's performance on SKY as the reporter was trying to speak to him in the street, what an arrogant twat of a man, get into the real world FFS!

"Error of judgement" = "I got caught".

[johnbc70]

I totally disagree, they make a very decent amount of money. If they wanted to make what top bankers do, then they should have gone into banking. They tend to be well educated, they know what they're getting in to.

We trust them to run our country? Well, actually a lot of the time we don't. Besides, we trust the police to keep us safe, nurses to keep us well, should we bump up thier salaries to match the bankers too? There are probably some dirty policeman out there, taking money in the side to let stuff slide, if we paid them a lot more, maybe they wouldn't? At least the, top, politicians will still be milking the cash cow, as advisors and speakers, long after they retire from politics.

Why is it too much to expect politicians to do the job they're paid to do, for the salary they agreed to do it for?

A senior GP earns an average of £100K, some up to £150K. A senior policeman earns over £100K (the Chief Constable gets £208,000) a senior nurse can earn nearly £100K. Edinburgh Council Chief Exec Sue Bruce gets paid £160,000 which is more than David Cameron. Point is all these professions you list have the scope to pay much higher salaries than MPs. Maybe a higher salary with the condition that they are strictly forbidden from pursuing paid work outside of being an MP is the answer.

[Speedy]

In terms of revenue, that's what's been going on.

I think those in senior positions should be paid enough to be beyond temptation, if they feel that this is too much or don't need the money then they could follow Alex Salmond's lead by donating the excess to good causes.

I mean ban any 2nd jobs or consultancy work.

[easty]

A senior GP earns an average of £100K, some up to £150K. A senior policeman earns over £100K (the Chief Constable gets £208,000) a senior nurse can earn nearly £100K. Edinburgh Council Chief Exec Sue Bruce gets paid £160,000 which is more than David Cameron. Point is all these professions you list have the scope to pay much higher salaries than MPs. Maybe a higher salary with the condition that they are strictly forbidden from pursuing paid work outside of being an MP is the answer.

Regardless of all that, I say again, why is it too much to expect politicians to do the job they're paid to do, for the salary they agreed to do it for?

[Peevemor]

Regardless of all that, I say again, why is it too much to expect politicians to do the job they're paid to do, for the salary they agreed to do it for?

Who says that they're not doing their job?

[johnbc70]

Regardless of all that, I say again, why is it too much to expect politicians to do the job they're paid to do, for the salary they agreed to do it for?

I think the majority do - as I said there will always be some that no matter what they get paid will always want more. If you pay them more, but on the strict basis they are forbidden from earning income from any other sources then I think that would work.

[easty]

Who says that they're not doing their job?

Not me.

[Peevemor]

Not me.

Now I'm confused - probably too many negatives. :greengrin

[easty]

Now I'm confused - probably too many negatives. :greengrin

What I'm saying is, they should do the job they're meant to do that they agreed to do when they accepted it, for the money they agreed to do it for. There shouldnt be any kind of talk about giving them a massive payrise so that they don't feel the need to make more on the side.

I think there was an errant comma in my sentance that, perhaps, caused the confusion in my point.

[Peevemor]

What I'm saying is, they should do the job they're meant to do that they agreed to do when they accepted it, for the money they agreed to do it for. There shouldnt be any kind of talk about giving them a massive payrise so that they don't feel the need to make more on the side.

I think there was an errant comma in my sentance that, perhaps, caused the confusion in my point.

Although Malcolm Rifkind using his political contacts/clout to make a bit of dosh on the side obviously appears sleazy, this doesn't mean that he's not doing his job as an MP. Rifkind's an advocate /QC and is a very smart cookie. He could have earned far more from the law than politics - maybe he feels entitled to top up his pension?

[snooky]

Although Malcolm Rifkind using his political contacts/clout to make a bit of dosh on the side obviously appears sleazy, this doesn't mean that he's not doing his job as an MP. Rifkind's an advocate /QC and is a very smart cookie. He could have earned far more from the law than politics - maybe he feels entitled to top up his pension?
These are the people who charge £5k for an afternoon's 'consultation' and expect the needy to live off the same amount for a year.
Sorry, but I have no sympathy for the greedy sods.

[Peevemor]

These are the people who charge £5k for an afternoon's 'consultation' and expect the needy to live off the same amount for a year.
Sorry, but I have no sympathy for the greedy sods.

No argument from me there.

[steakbake]

Rifkind and Straw on the take - I am sure there are many many many many more.

I'd like to top up my pension, too, from moonlighting and selling clients access to various commercially sensitive aspects of my day job.

Absolutely no sympathy for them at all. The way they go on about "the rules don't exclude me from doing this" sounds like the same kind of excuse people give for tax dodging.