A parliamentary allowances report to be published tomorrow 26th October, states that MPs claimed £85 million in expenses and allowances between April 2005 and March 2006. This is an increase of 5 Million on last year, and last year's increase was 3.8% on the previous year which amounted to £122,677 each. The report states that £4 million was paid to MPs who retired or lost their seats at the most recent general election. This does not of course include basic salaries which will be £60,277 from 1st November next.
2006-10-25 23:53:45 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
I asked the question to see how diverse the answers would be. Asking the question and giving information to assist answers does not give any indication of my own views.
2006-10-26 00:10:14 · update #1
OK - I'm going to close this down now. I'm a facts person and I really don't think any of us have the detailed facts to make a considered judgement. However, I am not convinced that all these expenses can be justified by receipts or invoices, or that MPs necessarily come from better paid jobs to turn to politics. I knew a labour MP once who spent his entire summer recess at his villa in Greece, something he would not have been able to do in the private sector! It does worry me that the only issue all parties ever agree on in parliament is their salary review and pension arrangements. Thanks for the answers.
2006-10-26 12:45:51 · update #2
It's going to be an unpopular answer, but I won't worry about that.
With a 60k salary, I think we get our MPs on the cheap. Most come from backgrounds where they give up work which pays far more to become an MP
As for expenses of 120k each, once you cost running two homes (one in Westminster, one in constituency), offices in both, secretarial and research assistance, travel between constituency and Westminster etc. etc. then it's not excessive.
Whether they are competent in what they do is a completely different question, but we can sack them, through the ballot box, at regular intervals. But a parliament which runs at less than 200k per elected member is not excessive.
Sorry to make you read an answer that rises above the "yeah, they're all crap" level.
2006-10-26 00:01:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think this is scandalous and should be looked into a great deal more.
Most politicians have their own business interests that pay them good salaries and they should be paid the minimum wage the same as other government workers.
Servicemen and women do a lot more for this country than any politician will ever do yet they get peanuts they (politicians) get so many "perks" its obscene and should be stopped.
2006-10-26 01:43:50 · answer #2 · answered by mentor 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
MP's expenses are excessive, the cost of keeping immigrants here is excessive, funding the Iraq war - & not enough money is being directed to the causes best served by the country - policing, education, hospitals. Stop paying your taxes - then they'd be no money for anyone to do anything!!!
2006-10-26 00:30:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only are the 'expenses' excessive, so is their regular pay.
Last year the MP for my area got paid roughly £60,000 for the year, and on top of that he claimed nearly £190,000 in expenses.
Their travel and postage exenses should come out of their regular pay, just like every one else has to do. In travel alone I have to pay £1500 per year, and that comes out of my £10,000 year salary.
2006-10-26 00:49:18 · answer #4 · answered by k 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The great expenses scam is only one way that we, the great British Tax Payer are ripped off by politicians at all levels from MEP's through MP's to MSP's to local councillors and of course all their hangers on. They cost us far more in sleaze than the whole Royalty budget.
2006-10-26 02:33:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
most definitely it is way to much money claimed. for goodness sakes we cannot even get proper health care and MP's are having a Field day.
what about all the pensioners who cannot pay council tax and go to jail. they could use some of that.
why not spend some of that on garbage sorters that sort garbage so we don't have to.
2006-10-26 01:56:59 · answer #6 · answered by sherylann9406 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES!!
Surely MPs would be prepared to have a pay decrease for the sake of improving healthcare/helping of youth/(most likely) the encouragement of Islam and/or transport amendments?!
2006-10-26 00:05:47 · answer #7 · answered by swelwynemma 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is excessive but probably accurate with the travelling they have to do - I think we should probably ask the question as to why in the age of so much advanced technology such as video and web conferencing, IM's and email we should need our local MPs to travel to London so regularly in order to do their jobs.
2006-10-26 02:11:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is.
You have to bear in mind that being a politician means you have access to Trillions of £££££ of free money.
That's why they do it. They couldn't give a monkeys about you or me, just themselves.
NO EXCEPTIONS.
2006-10-26 00:03:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and doctored to dupe the public purse
2006-10-25 23:55:49 · answer #10 · answered by witchfromoz2003 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋