Most liked posts in thread: Owen Paterson.

she probably doesn’t get paid the same salary as when she was doing Strictly etc. and this is part of the problem when people talk about stuff like this, they quote past salary and then current jobs, not realising that the two may not be the same

 

Isn't that the whole point though?

Of course there's going to be more government MPs being tapped up. What sort of inside track would an opposition MP give you?

It's not a moralistic difference it's a capability and accessibility difference.

So ban second jobs completely and pay MPs more to offset it. Its not difficult. So why does nobody say it.

 

It's a difficult one, remember for a lot of MP's their tenure can be not much longer than a football manager, they have to keep tabs on outside interests so they have somewhere to go when voted out...

 

Just another example of Tory sleaze, all led by Johnson. What a piece of weak scum Johnson is.

 

All politicians no matter what side are a bunch of self endearing corrupt cowards. I don’t even read the news anymore. Not sure why people get so heated with politics, it’s all a game and is constructed to make us minions fall out with each other.

 

They have nothing to worry about with the BBC. The bodies in charge of the beeb are Tories.

 

And now he's trying to brazen out being given a free week at Goldsmith's tax avoiding £25k per week luxury villa by declaring it on the ministerial interests register (which doesn't detail financial value) instead of the MPs' interests register (which does).
The thick skin and sense of entitlement is breathtaking. The man seems to think he can do what the hell he likes, without consequences.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/05/boris-johnson-will-not-declare-spanish-holiday-in-mps-register-says-no-10?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

 

I'm sure that Paterson is the tip of the iceberg. Does anyone seriously think that companies pay these eye watering sums (for minimal work) for any other reason than the parliamentary influence they can buy?

30 MPs have paid consultancies. 28 are Tories. Snouts in the trough.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/07/30-mps-who-could-be-affected-by-proposed-consultancy-ban?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

 

Nope, I don't think anyone believes it is, but the trick is actually proving it. Insinuation doesn't work any more.

All they need to do is ban second jobs....but nobody suggests or promises it. Why? Because if they any of them ever got into power they'd want to benefit from it as well?

 

As is superbly articulated here:

 

They're ashamed.

 

No! NO! NOO!!! You can'y say that! Just focus on Johnson otherwise you'll make the exact same mistake that the Labour party makes. Says so Aaron Baker - which is precisely what the Tworwy party want. That way they can get rid of Johnson and all will be well in the tory party. End of all sleaze.
Stop trying to distract us Baker. You are talking junk.
Tories just keep on giving:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/09/sir-geoffrey-cox-the-infatigueable-rides-to-the-defence-of-tax-haven-against-uk-foreign-office

 

Cash for honours:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/09/revealed-dearth-of-speeches-from-ex-tory-treasurers-in-the-lords?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

Absent without leave:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-59218438.amp

Snouts in the trough:
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/nov/09/at-least-a-quarter-of-tory-mps-have-second-jobs-earning-5m-a-year?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

 

Does that article say only 3 Labour MPs have paid positions outside Parliament? That can't be right?

Still, the Labour Party could just stop all this by banning second jobs and abolishing the House of Lords....they'd be multiple steps towards getting my vote if they did.

I can't understand why they haven't though.

 

You're dead right but you'll never get agreement on it because too many people think MPs should have to struggle on minimum wage or the average salary of their constituents or whatever. But we don't actually want average people running the country, we want the best people of all walks of life.

At £82k you can't even attract the best headteachers, police superintendents, army colonels or GP let alone anyone with an entrepreneurial, financial or computing background. Someone would have to explain to me how someone who was qualified enough to be the Director General of the BBC would have to take a £360k PAYCUT to help to run the country.

So you end up with 3 types of people going into Politics;

1. Average people who could never hope to earn more than £80k
2. People who have generational wealth where it doesn't really matter whether they earn £80k or £180k
3. People who can supplement their income in other additional ways

None of which are actually good for our politics in the long run.

 

82K gets you Marcus Rashford for 2 days (basic only, not withstanding any bonuses)...