Cutting the Cost of Politics
As the party conference season gets into full swing - some people are asking questions that might start raising a few eyebrows - and not before time.
Like: "Why is the taxpayer footing the bill for MPs (from all parties) - to swan about at party conferences - when they are clearly not at work or doing their proper day jobs?"
First the Lib Dems in Bournemouth last week, followed tomorrow by Labour in Brighton - and then finally by the Tories next week in Manchester.
The new speaker of the House of Commons (John Bercow) seems to agree - here's what he's had to say recently on the subject of our MPs' lengthy summer recess:
"I am very sympathetic to those who say: Why do MPs need to have a 12-week recess?"
"I don't think it is necessary."
"People cannot understand, even if MPs are working hard in their constituencies in September, why, when the vast majority of people are back at their place of work, we are not."
"I see no reason why September must be deemed sacred."
John Bercow was elected on a ticket of cleaning up politics - and a good start would be to require that any MP attending their annual party conference - should be docked a full week's pay for doing so.
As there are over 640 MPs - paid over £1,000 per week (for just a bog standard backbencher) - that would save fast approaching £1 million every year - not counting the many family members who invariably attend these events, but who double up as office staff.
Like: "Why is the taxpayer footing the bill for MPs (from all parties) - to swan about at party conferences - when they are clearly not at work or doing their proper day jobs?"
First the Lib Dems in Bournemouth last week, followed tomorrow by Labour in Brighton - and then finally by the Tories next week in Manchester.
The new speaker of the House of Commons (John Bercow) seems to agree - here's what he's had to say recently on the subject of our MPs' lengthy summer recess:
"I am very sympathetic to those who say: Why do MPs need to have a 12-week recess?"
"I don't think it is necessary."
"People cannot understand, even if MPs are working hard in their constituencies in September, why, when the vast majority of people are back at their place of work, we are not."
"I see no reason why September must be deemed sacred."
John Bercow was elected on a ticket of cleaning up politics - and a good start would be to require that any MP attending their annual party conference - should be docked a full week's pay for doing so.
As there are over 640 MPs - paid over £1,000 per week (for just a bog standard backbencher) - that would save fast approaching £1 million every year - not counting the many family members who invariably attend these events, but who double up as office staff.
After all, why should the taxpayer pay people's salaries - for something that's only about party political advantage?
