Picture by Ifeng 1014
Should MPs accept their pay-rise? The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority says they should get a 10% raise, placing them at £74,000 a year. There has been huffing and puffing about this occurring at a time when civil servants will be lucky to get 1%. Some MPs have announced loudly that they won’t take the raise and/or will give it to charity.
A few brief points. If you set up an independent body to decide on wage levels, then it makes sense to accept its decisions – a bit like the Parades Commission, when you think of it. If it would look stupid to complain that the Indepedendent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) had given you too little, it equally makes no sense to complain that IPSA has given you too much. Especially if, like David Cameron and many of his Cabinet, you’re a multi-millionaire.
The question that should be asked is, who decides on the make-up of IPSA? That’s easy – the Speaker of the House of Commons nominates them and that’s then approved by the parliament. So what kind of person gets nominated? Why, people like Sir Neil Butterfield, who was a High Court Judge. And Elizabth Padmore who was chair of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation trust, and before that worked in a management consultancy group. And Anne Whitaker, who was head of audit for Financial Services at Ernst & Young.And Professor Tony Wright, who used to be an MP. Would you say those names and backgrounds suggest they’re members of the Establishment or not? Yes indeedy. So however fine (or foul) they are as individuals, they’re safe people to appoint, people who won’t ask questions about equality in society. They’ll make the right noises and the right moves. That’s what they do. That’s why they were appointed.
I had a discussion recently with a man about the role of money in terms of an organisation. He believes that money corrupts. I believe that’s excessively high-minded, since you’d starve to death without it. But the IPSA recommendation, and the hypocritical twittering of MPs pretending they’re appalled at what’s been recommended, raise the question: what work is of most worth? Is a hospital surgeon worth more than a hospital cleaner? Is a lawyer worth more than a teacher? Is a factory worker entitled to as much money as a factory owner?
I know what I think is the answer to those questions, and I’ll blog my perspective tomorrow. Meanwhile the government that’s intend on totally neutering the British trade unions is about to help itself to a handsome raise.
From each according to his ability and to each accordig to his needs. Do I detect a closet Marxist or just a Christian struggling to make sense of it all?
What about the powerful maiden speech by Scottish National Party MP Mhairi Black. She challenged “out-of-touch Tories” , austerity and “inept Labour.” Ms Black compared some members to “weathercocks” that “spin in whatever direction the wind of public opinion may blow them…”
Hot on the heels of an election and a budget, we are told that there is no money for public services yet there is money to give members of parliament a pay increase as recommended by an ‘Independent’ Parliamentary Standards Authority. Pass the champagne, please.
Isnt it amazing how Jude doesn’t report the pay rises wont cost the “British” tax payer a penny as the expenses and pension system for MP`s is being changed sadly remiss of you Jude!
That’s my knuckles rapped then…So the whole exercise was to add at one end and subtract at another? And there are people spending time doing this and (probably) being paid? Right. That makes sense.
Yes that does seem to be the case
I am one who does not think MPs are worth the money they have just been awarded by this ‘independent’ body, set up by the government and paid by the government, so independent is not an adjective I would apply – its more a grace and favour appointment.
But we’re probably stuck with IPSA, so why not put it to good use, and have them adjudicate on the wages/salary of all workers in the country.
Wonder how generous they would be with non-government workers and who the winners and losers would be!
Do MP’s deserve a pay rise? I think 90% of people would agree no, they do not. I’m of the opinion that MP’s should be on the average workers wage. If the average workers wage rises then so does the MP’s. If the average workers wage falls then so does the MP’s. Of course MP’s should be still entitled to expenses (but not for things like Ian Duncan Smiths underwear or the DUP’s Jeffrey Donaldson’s movie collection). I know there’s the argument that having MP’s on a low wage would discourage “talented” people from pursuing a career as an MP. My reply to that theory is: Has it worked so far? Has our current “talented” MP’s been worth the money? Obviously not. I believe people wanting to be an MP because of the money are the people we SHOULDNT want to be our Members of Parliament. I believe our MP’s should be people motivated to be an MP because they want to serve their communities and do their best for that community, not because they are looking forward to a cool £74,000 per year and all expenses paid, not to mention the influence that comes with being an MP.
I’m not left wing or right wing. I’m kind of a mixture of both. Whether your a Consultant Surgeon who spent years at University studying or a Street sweeper on the first day of the job, I believe everyone should be valued and respected because everybody plays a part in society. Should everyone be on the same wage? No. That sounds much like a socialist paradise which cant be implemented in a Capitalist system (some argue it cant be implemented at all) but I do think what is needed is a good living wage of £8 – £10 per hour, not in 2020 as the tories plan (when the price of goods would have risen above what they are now, so its not much of a pay rise) but now, here in 2015.
I’m for a living wage too, ryan. But I’ve yet to hear a convincing argument for paying one person a massive amount and another a pittance, where both are working conscientiously at their job.
Jude, would you say paying a Surgeon and a Street sweeper the same wage is fair? Taking into account the years of study, the importance of the Surgeons work, how talented you have to be academically, etc to be a surgeon? I’m not showing any disrespect at all for street sweepers or council workers btw but the reality is working as a Surgeon is usually dealing in matters of life or death, you have to be extremely skilled to be one, surely its justified a qualified Surgeon having a higher wage than a street sweeper whom, now days, only needs a few GCSEs or even just work experience to get the job? As I’ve mentioned already I believe in a living wage for everyone, no one should be getting a wage that doesn’t meet the cost of essential living, along with a decent quality of life.
I know the point you’re making Ryan, and I sympathise with it. But just think – the surgeon is born with that ability – does that mean he should be rewarded for what he has, while the street-cleaner, less lucky, ain’t? Supposing the street-cleaners/binmen stopped for a month – wouldn’t we have rats and rotting and disease? It’s a very tricky one, I think. We’ve got so used to assuming that someone smart, who trains a long time, is therefore more deserving than someone who’s less smart and doesn’t have as much training. But we reward each person with one vote, not three or four or ten. Is it necessarily right to reward the surgeon with ten times the salary – forty times the salary – of the bin-man? Interesting topic for thought…
Interesting points on here (it is great to get off the 12th topic…oops I just mentioned it ahhh!). I never thought about my wage before, but I know I work very long hours and put in a big effort for what some call a underpaid profession. I could easily go and work in a mine and double my wage instantly but I would not enjoy the work. Unfortunately under our system the lowest paid jobs are the ones that anyone can do if they want to, (simple supply and demand). If we can’t change the the system maybe we could mix the jobs up a bit. eg. surgeons are required to work 4 days as a surgeon and one day as a binman (for example). I feel there is too much difference between the highest earners and the lowest paid. We also need to remember all you need to make buckets loads of money in our system is bucket loads of money. That leaves us with more questions than answers.