 |
| Home |
| Political News |
| Meet Your Local MP |
| Comment |
| Have Your Say |
| Campaigns |
| Theresa May |
| John Redwood |
| Martin Salter |
| Rob Wilson |
| Richard Benyon |
| Useful Links |
- AAT Courses
- Absolute Health and Safety Solutions Limited
- Business lead generation
- Customer testimonials
- Diamond drilling
- First page seo
- Information Drivers
- Kids in Berkshire
- LIVE answering service
- Mary Flavelle
- NRG Networks
- On this day in history
- Outbound telemarketing services
- Personal business coach
- Positive energy
- Promotional micro sites
- Sales force outsourcing
- Sales training consultancy
- Technical Concrete Cutting Limited
- Windsor Vehicle Leasing
|
Salter's bill to end MPs moonlighting
|
Martin Salter, the Labour MP for Reading West, will tomorrow, 16th May, introduce a Ten Minute Rule Bill in the House of Commons to bar MPs from holding a range of paid second jobs.
Mr Salter’s analysis of the Register of Members’ Interests published in March reveals that as many as 159 MPs (25%) are pursuing parallel careers in the city, the courts or with lucrative consultancies. The Members of Parliament (Employment Disqualification) Bill will require MPs to give up their second jobs while allowing them to pursue a range of other paid activities, including writing articles, work on behalf of charities or not for profit organisations and public policy development, which are broadly compatible with their Parliamentary duties. Martin Salter’s research shows that MPs affected by the Bill would include: • 51% of Conservative MPs (99 in number) • 26% of minority party MPs (9) • 24% of Liberal Democrat MPs (15) • 9% of Labour MPs (33) Martin Salter said: “MPs are elected to do a full-time job for their constituents and with a salary of £60,000 we’re paid well for it. Most of us now earn more than double the average income of the people we represent. "However, a considerable number of MPs are apparently too greedy or too bored to devote their time and energy to the job their constituents are paying them to do. "They’re out there in the boardrooms and in the courtrooms lining their own pockets. If these people really think that being a Member of Parliament is a part-time job and their constituents are prepared to put up with it then, at the very least, they should only draw a part-time salary.” Mr Salter added: “Over recent years there has been much debate over the declining public esteem in which Parliament is held. There was even a Select Committee report entitled “Connecting Parliament with the People” but with such large numbers of my colleagues blatantly moonlighting on their day jobs perhaps the first priority should be to take action to re-connect MPs with Parliament and their constituents.” Mr Salter’s research examined the voting records of top five outside earners and compared the figures with the average attendance at Commons votes for all MPs. The average voting record for 2005-6 was 73%. For the 5 top earning MPs, over the same period their voting record is as follows: MP Known earnings (£) Voting record % William Hague 800,000 59 David Blunkett 585,000 49 Boris Johnson 405,000 55 Anne Widdecombe 310,000 41 George Galloway 305,000 15 The research also highlighted the activities of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet, who in addition to their Parliamentary salaries receive nearly £5 million in “short money” from the taxpayer to help them perform their Parliamentary duties. A third of Conservative front benchers have registered second jobs despite the extra responsibilities of serving in the Shadow Cabinet. Government Ministers by contrast are required to relinquish all remunerated employment upon taking office. Martin Salter said: “My research shows clearly that some of the top earners are also some of the worst absentees from Parliament. This nails the lie that it is possible to be a conscientious MP whilst drawing fat salaries elsewhere. "The research also raises the question of whether it is right for the Shadow Cabinet to continue to receive a massive dollop of cash from the taxpayer when 7 of the 23 Tory frontbenchers are trousering a small fortune in directorships and consultancies.” |
|
Wordtracker |
|
|
