MPs still don't get it do they

[drew]

Read what I wrote again. I just liked the bloke for standing up for himself.

so, if Peter Sucliffe stood up for himself or Ian Huntley, you would have a sneeky admiration for them? Or, being in finance industry is your admiration reserved for those financial crooks that nearly get away with it (or, in the case of the Wintertons, actually do get away with it).

Not really, it can't be compared to any other job. Many people would do it for much less to have it on their CV.

After resigning or getting selected MPs can walk into another job, many walking into them whilst remaining a member of parliament.

If they want to paid the figure you suggest than the whole system needs to be changed.

For example, no outside employment and probably a paid period of gardening leave after they stop being a MP, no unelected people allowed to sit in the cabinet.

The whole system of interest groups needs to be looked at as well which are potentially as big a scandal as the expenses.

Gardening leave, they leave with virtually a full years salary if they stand down at an election, together with handsome pensions. The Wintertons pension is estimated to be £2m with £200k pay-off. They should have gone two years ago but knew the financial cost if they did.