The debate over the pay rise quickly moved away from the point. The difficulty in granting such a pay rise at a period when public sector pay rises have been largely frozen should have been the main discussion point. However, the talk quickly descended into an argument about MPs being lazy, greedy and corrupt. A theme the media love to take up even though the evidence is barely there to support it. A it's simplest level, the vast majority of MPs could hold down senior executive roles in FTSE companies. The latest pay rise will put them roughly at the bottom of this pay range. In short there are easier ways for talented people to make money.
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| Is Cameron no longer allowed on holiday? (Image © BisGovUK 2013) |
The holiday comment is also worth pursuing in more detail. Pictures of David Cameron covered the tabloid press last week. The Mail reported that he "relaxed in a restaurant" and quoted a Labour MP who said "Britain Deserved More". Meaning what? They deserve someone who doesn't take a holiday? Is that now the view of the opposition? That we are more effective without holidays? That's moving quite a long way from protecting workers. I'm guessing that that isn't really the view of Labour, guessing in fact it's not really the view of the media either and that holidays are still allowed for the 'hard working family' and guessing that its just an easy bandwagon topic to roll out in the quiet summer months. It also ignores the fact that people who operate at this sort of level don't really get holidays as the rest of us know them. Yes, they get away to the sun, even spend time having a meal in a restaurant, being romantically photographed by paparazzi. But they don't stop, always on call or in Cameron's case, constantly being briefed and updated on the latest situations. Different location doesn't mean he stops working.
Then the corrupt piece. There is an argument that says that the MP should be beyond reproach. That they should be perfect in every aspect of their professional and personal lives. This doesn't merely even apply to the time they serve in parliament but to anything they may have done in their youth. Of course a criticism of MPs is that they are distant from reality, that they don't reflect the lives of their constituents. These, I am guessing, are people who never make mistakes, never have affairs and are similarly beyond reproach? You really can't have it both ways. In the Hansard study, the vast majority of canvassed MPs said the role was having a detrimental effect on their private lives. Worth noting that any role that has such a significant effect on private lives, especially combined with late hours and working away from home is likely to create am environment where MPs form extra marital relationships to help them cope or to escape. One of the areas most frowned on (and sensationally reported on) of course by our impeccably well behaved media.
The recent expenses crisis of course highlighted some of the worst practices of the MPs. Although interestingly the reality was that only very few actually broke rules. It highlighted antiquated rules, established practices and quite rightly prompted a remodelling of the expenses procedures. Those that did have been rightfully prosecuted and most have stepped down. They represent a tiny proportion of the whole. Probably one that is in line with (or even less than) a comparable sample of expense fraud in any corporate.
But it created a view that the tabloid media have been keen to further. The view that politicians do it for the easy life, that they do it for the money. Neither bears out in reality. Long hours, always on duty. The constant threat of exposure in the media for the slightest mistake all with low comparative renumeration. That's not an easy life, it's certainly not the way to make the most money.
Most MPs enter politics with the aim to make things better. To fight for principles that they firmly believe in. To make their country a better place. In my dealings with politicians, that never changes. Like anyone in any organisation, corporate or public, they get weighed down by the internal politics, the bureaucracy and the sheer effort involved in actually achieving what should be small tasks. But my experience is that that desire to do ones best always remains.
It's a tough job, one I would certainly never want to do. It isn't by any means an easy life, there are better ways of making money. It also has a unique characteristic in that in theory, if you find enough people who think you would do a better job, you could do it. Mind you, that's quite a lot of effort. Maybe it's easier to go on holiday.
Sources:
BBC report on Hansard study
Guardian comparison between teachers and MPs working hours
Best Paid Jobs League Table
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