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Why are MP's paid so much?

They're paid "the right amount" imo. I don't like that they want a pay rise though when they're freezing (effectively taking away money from people) salaries for doctors/nurses

By 'freezing' do you mean increasing scales by 1% and proving annual progression increments?

Reply 41

The_Internet

20

Original post by Quady

By 'freezing' do you mean increasing scales by 1% and proving annual progression increments?

And what is the rate of inflation? (It's worked out at around 2.7% for the past 10 months atm) Im "happy" for NHS workers to get a pay freeze IF politicians didn't want a high increase (I read 11% somewhere)

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 42

River85

17

Original post by Rational Thinker

No, you should compare it with the average salary and if you do, you will realise MP's are very well paid.

But it isn't an average job. That's the point.

An average salary or just below average salary, say 20k, is typically paid to someone who works a 37 hour week in a call centre, doing work that anyone who is reasonably competent and has a mediocre level 4 education can do. This work may be tedious but it doesn't require any particularly special skill set or education.

Many MPs leave jobs that are as well paid, or even better paid, in both the private and public sectors in order to become MPs.

What you might be more justified in criticising is the additional work that MPs can take in, and income they get as a result. But it's my personal belief MPs should actually be paid more, but receive less in expenses.

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 43

Quady

20

Original post by arson_fire

If you compare them to a director of a FTSE 100 company (average £3.3million salary), £65k doesn`t seem so bad for a similar level of responsibility.

Do you mean CEO of a FTSE100?

MPs aren't even at director level, that would be Secretaries of State, with the PM being CEO. But yeah, if you compare against partner or associate director level then they still don't do well no.

Reply 44

navyspaces

Not overpaid. Consider that with equivalent qualifications and skills some potential MPs could be working in other jobs that would be vastly more profitable (e.g. finance. Could be on £65k three years after graduation...). A decently high salary and the promise of some power attracts a decent standard of player, rather than losing all of the brightest and best (a controversial statement, perhaps...!) to other areas .

Reply 45

Quady

20

Original post by de_monies

And what is the rate of inflation? (It's worked out at around 2.7% for the past 10 months atm) Im "happy" for NHS workers to get a pay freeze IF politicians didn't want a high increase (I read 11% somewhere)

And whats the increment? 3-4%?
http://www.rcn.org.uk/support/pay_and_conditions/pay_rates_201314

That gives a 4-5% pay rise a year, so more than inflation.

Civil Servants have judged MPs pay should go up 11% or something between the two elections, so about 2%/annum.

Reply 46

Coffinman

8

Original post by Ripper-Roo

If they were paid lower they'd be more likely to be open to bribes or corruption.

They're already open to bribes so we should cut their wages down to minimum wage. :biggrin:

Reply 47

MagicNMedicine

20

MPs have hard and demanding jobs and work long hours and many of them could earn a lot more in the private sector. Some people think they are cool by saying MPs are parasites etc but I bet they understand pretty much nothing about the democratic process and what MPs do, or Ministers who have an even more demanding job.

Sadly democracy is wasted on some people.

As an aside though there was an MP in Coventry in the 1980s called Dave Nellist who refused to take his full MPs salary and would only draw the equivalent salary to the average wage in his constituency.

Reply 48

MatureStudent36

5

Original post by River85

But it isn't an average job. That's the point.

An average salary or just below average salary, say 20k, is typically paid to someone who works a 37 hour week in a call centre, doing work that anyone who is reasonably competent and has a mediocre level 4 education can do. This work may be tedious but it doesn't require any particularly special skill set or education.

Many MPs leave jobs that are as well paid, or even better paid, in both the private and public sectors in order to become MPs.

What you might be more justified in criticising is the additional work that MPs can take in, and income they get as a result. But it's my personal belief MPs should actually be paid more, but receive less in expenses.

I'll go with your idea except with the expenses. An MP in London for example needs less travel expenses than an MP from Orkney. But the MP from Orkney will need less expenses for surgery rental.

How about this one. Governments purchase properties in London that MPs live in as part of the job, but cannot take directorships but gain an increase in their basic salary.

Reply 49

MatureStudent36

5

Original post by MagicNMedicine

MPs have hard and demanding jobs and work long hours and many of them could earn a lot more in the private sector. Some people think they are cool by saying MPs are parasites etc but I bet they understand pretty much nothing about the democratic process and what MPs do, or Ministers who have an even more demanding job.

Sadly democracy is wasted on some people.

As an aside though there was an MP in Coventry in the 1980s called Dave Nellist who refused to take his full MPs salary and would only draw the equivalent salary to the average wage in his constituency.

A socialist/communist who has stood by whilst his constituents manufacturing base has been dessimated.

Reply 50

DaveSmith99

14

Considering the job they (are supposed to) do is not a high salary at all. Its less than a head teacher gets paid, or a upper-mid level management. The vast majority of MP's could quit and double their salary doing something else if they wanted to.

Reply 51

TimmonaPortella

21

Original post by Rational Thinker

Why are these parasites on so much money, considering that far more intelligent and useful people, eg teachers, University lecturers and such are on so much less? I know many of us would happily be an MP for £25,000 or less, so why are MP's paid so much?

It's an important and difficult job, and apparently taking it makes you a 'parasite' not only by default but by definition.

Maybe that's why.

Reply 52

elohssa

3

They are very over-paid. Most MP's have degrees in Politics, Social Studies, History etc. Considering anyone can get a degree in one of these subjects (if they can be bothered), I don't see how they can justify a salary so high. Supply and demand should set the wages and there are plenty of people qualified enough to be MPs.

Reply 53

Quady

20

Original post by elohssa

They are very over-paid. Most MP's have degrees in Politics, Social Studies, History etc. Considering anyone can get a degree in one of these subjects (if they can be bothered), I don't see how they can justify a salary so high. Supply and demand should set the wages and there are plenty of people qualified enough to be MPs.

I don't see how academic qualifications make you 'qualified' to be an MP...

Plenty of people have degrees, very few can lead.

Reply 54

elohssa

3

Original post by Quady

I don't see how academic qualifications make you 'qualified' to be an MP...

Plenty of people have degrees, very few can lead.

Well maybe degrees shouldn't even be a requirement. Either way I'd disagree that very few can lead; it's just that very few have good policies.

Reply 55

MatureStudent36

5

Original post by elohssa

They are very over-paid. Most MP's have degrees in Politics, Social Studies, History etc. Considering anyone can get a degree in one of these subjects (if they can be bothered), I don't see how they can justify a salary so high. Supply and demand should set the wages and there are plenty of people qualified enough to be MPs.

Plenty qualified, but non willing to do it.

Have you tried returning back to a career after a 5 year break.

I's still like to know what mythical qualifications you need to be a politician. Possibly the same mythical qualification to be a successful businessman. Oh that's right they don't exist.

so we're stuck in a position where some people complain that we have politicians with no real world experience and then criticise those that do for not taking dramatic pay cuts to do the jobs for free.

I'm no great lover of politicians, but when you have a real look at what they do in a week then I have to say that I actually see why they get paid that much. Actually speak to them and they have more than a basic grasp of the economy, social issues, health issues and a whole raft of other issues. Combine that with the amount if constituency work they do and you're looking at a busy do.

Reply 56

InnerTemple

20

Original post by TimmonaPortella

It's an important and difficult job

Do you think all important and difficult jobs should be rewarded with a similar wage to that of an MP?

There are other jobs out there which are important, difficult, require long hours, require someone to be at their best and all the rest of it which do not attract the same earnings as an MP. Even more annoyingly, there are jobs out there which require all of the above which have seen wages fall at the hands of MPs.

Reply 57

elohssa

3

Original post by MatureStudent36

Plenty qualified, but non willing to do it.

Have you tried returning back to a career after a 5 year break.

I's still like to know what mythical qualifications you need to be a politician. Possibly the same mythical qualification to be a successful businessman. Oh that's right they don't exist.

so we're stuck in a position where some people complain that we have politicians with no real world experience and then criticise those that do for not taking dramatic pay cuts to do the jobs for free.

I'm no great lover of politicians, but when you have a real look at what they do in a week then I have to say that I actually see why they get paid that much. Actually speak to them and they have more than a basic grasp of the economy, social issues, health issues and a whole raft of other issues. Combine that with the amount if constituency work they do and you're looking at a busy do.

1) I'm sure most of today's MPs would be more than happy to continue doing their job for 40k or less. I'm sure for that money there is no shortage of competition.

2) So do a lot of ordinary people. Difference is those ordinary people also have the real-world experience that you've mentioned MPs lack. I personally think that people should be discourages from entering politics until they're at least 30+ year old and had worked in the real world.

Reply 58

Quady

20

Original post by elohssa

Well maybe degrees shouldn't even be a requirement. Either way I'd disagree that very few can lead; it's just that very few have good policies.

'Good policies' matter little if you can lead. Obama got in just telling people to hope - hardly a great policy, but he could lead.

Same with UKIP and SNP, some half arsed policies, but with leaders fronting them.

Reply 59

LETSJaM

16

Compared with other jobs which have a direct impact on the country, such as CEO's & bankers, who can earn upwards of £1m; £60k isn't really that much. :wink:

<3 x

Why are MP's paid so much?

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