Uncle Mort Ethos

For years people have depend on seeking the advice of friends to help with their problems. There was also an alternative what appeared in the Agony Aunt or advice column in a newspapers or magazines. These were the places for people to consult the oracle aunt and ask questions about anything in life. Uncle Mort's blog is the home of an agony uncle and is where you can also ask questions on any subject. The answers you get may or may not fulfill your wishes.

Thursday 17 January 2013

I'm a celeb, get me in to here!

Nadine Asked:  "I have read in the papers that our illustrious Members of Parliament have suggested that they desperately need a 32% increases in their pay. What do you think about this?"

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, don't make me laugh. Nadine, you are asking about our old house flipping friends with their snouts in the swill trough we call Westminster. It looks like they are showing their true colours again. This time in an anonymous survey conducted by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. This is only an initial consultation into pay and pensions. The fact it is anonymous consultation and under the cloak of invisibility it gives them the brass neck so say what they really think. 


In the past, MPs have been able to agreed their pay and pensions among themselves. A cosy little set-up where it was not prudent to be seen asking for more. So a blind eye was turned to their "expenses claims" to allow them to get a bit more into their Fagin like grasp. The MP's of all parties even voted last time against a 1% pay rise and agreed to extend the pay freeze into 2013 on their current salary of £65,738. They were feeling the shame of the expenses scandal and a fair few were hoping not to have their collars felt. 

So what did the initial consultation into pay and pensions highlight. Only that they wanted an eye watering average £86,250 salary. Though the Tories said their salary should be £96,740. While Lib Dems thought the right amount was £78,361. Labour came up with £77,322. The other parties put the figure at £75,091. The survey also highlighted that 69% thought they were underpaid. More than a third thought they should also keep their final-salary pensions.

Ipsa took control of MPs' pay and pensions in October last year so that the "old boys club" of MPs no longer get a vote on it. This so called "new approach" of independent decision-making. Is supposed to mark a real change in the way that MP's pay is calculated.  It is also supposed to be another crucial step in helping Parliament to regain the trust of the public. Ipsa is also supposed to be looking at ways to move away from the general final salary pension scheme.

Now, call me old and cynical. But if the MP's truly believe that their pay should be decided upon. Independent of the influence of parliament. Why were the politicians even consulted by Ipsa anyway?

I believe that most right minded people think that an MPs' current salaries is "about right". There is always the option for MP's who think they are underpaid for what they do, to resign to go and seek bigger salaries outside of parliament. In that way, market forces could be brought into the equation.

I quite like the quote of Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of campaign group the Tax-Payers' Alliance "Hiking politicians' wages at a time of pay freezes, benefit caps and necessary spending cuts would be completely unpalatable to taxpayers."

That leaves the vexed question of outside earnings and lobbying. I have one simple way of looking at this. If we are paying an MP a current salary of £65,738 to represent us. Then that should be the only job of work that they do. I want someone who has no external interests to divert him or her from the task in hand.

Regards.

Uncle Mort.



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