Sleaze row: BBC caller suggests increasing MP wages
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Caller Mark rang BBC Radio 5 Live and argued MPs should not have a second job and that they should be paid more to make the position more lucrative for them. Mark explained some MPs could go into the private sector and make £150,000+ and said he would be comfortable paying that amount so MPs could entirely focus on politics. The caller added he could not understand how MPs have enough time to work a second job and stated the banning of taking on advisory or consultation jobs while in office could cut out the sleaze and lobbying scandals.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Mark said: “I actually think this is quite controversial but I would actually say to pay MPs a little bit more.
“Let’s pay them and say that is what you get, that’s a good wage and we want them to be the best of us… and in our world, we supposedly pay the best of us more.
“So pay them well but say that’s it and don’t pay them any money from any other source i8n the whole of the time that you sit in Parliament.”
Mark joked he did not know how MPs had enough time to do two jobs as he took on a second job and found it really difficult.
Presenter Nicky Campbell wanted to know how much Mark would pay MPs to entice them into the role and said they should be paid £150,000.
He argued some MPs were earning six figures on the side and did not think it was unreasonable to give MPs as their basic wage.
MPs have a basic annual salary of £81,932 and also receive expenses to cover the costs of running an office and staff.
Their pay is reviewed every year and is usually increased in line with inflation.
However, it is not uncommon for MPs to have second jobs while they are in office
Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan continues to work shifts at hospital and spent her time in wards during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey earns an extra £78,000 a year where he advises an international law firm and an energy firm.
It is also not the first time there have been calls to increase wages.
Tory MP Sir Peter Bottomley wrote in October he wanted to see MPs paid more than £100,000-a-year
He stated he did not know how newer MPs survive on the basic salary and said politicians were like medical consultants but with political knowledge.
Boris Johnson is grilled on the handling of Owen Paterson saga
Last week, Kathyrn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, called for a Commons ban of 30 sitting days for Owen Paterson.
The standards body found Mr Paterson lobbied on behalf of two companies that paid him more than £100,000 per year.
Mr Paterson tried to appeal against the decision but the decision was sent to the House of Commons to vote on his suspension.
However, an amendment put forward by Andrea Leadsom tried to introduce a Conservative-led committee that would review the decision and suggest whether a new standards system is needed.
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The committee would be made up of cross-party MPs but the ultimate decision on Mr Paterson’s suspension would fall to Tory minister John Whittingdale.
Conservative whips told backbenchers to vote for the amendment with it narrowly passing 250 to 232 votes.
Many abstained or voted against the amendment as opposition benches were furious at the decision and vowed to boycott the committee.
The Government then U-turned on the decision following mass outcry with Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg telling the House there will now be cross-party talks on reform rather than Mr Paterson’s specific case.
Mr Paterson resigned on Thursday rather than face a 30-day suspension when the vote went through the Commons again.
MPs held an emergency debate in the Commons about MPs’ standards on Monday following the events.
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