[Misc] Owen Patterson M.P.

[Husty]

The BASIC salary of a backbench MP is a smidge under £82K. And you want to pay them more? For real?

Maybe if I tell you that the average salary for a junior doctor in London is £38K it might put things in perspective for you.

Mad comparison. Ones at the very beginning of a career that will go on to be much more lucrative. The other is towards the end and has little prospect of it increasing significantly.

We need good, intelligent people to be MPs. To attract them to the role it needs to pay well.

Today, our best and brightest can make many multiples of an MPs salary (in the long run) as a lawyer, consultant, doctor, engineer, banker or programmer, what effect do you think this will have on our nation over time, when it is effectively being run by people that are far from our smartest? Nothing good.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Mad comparison. Ones at the very beginning of a career that will go on to be much more lucrative. The other is towards the end and has little prospect of it increasing significantly.

We need good, intelligent people to be MPs. To attract them to the role it needs to pay well.

Today, our best and brightest can make many multiples of an MPs salary (in the long run) as a lawyer, consultant, doctor, engineer, banker or programmer, what effect do you think this will have on our nation over time, when it is effectively being run by people that are far from our smartest? Nothing good.

Many MPs are qualified lawyers, doctors and bankers.
Power and greed corrupt.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Mad comparison. Ones at the very beginning of a career that will go on to be much more lucrative. The other is towards the end and has little prospect of it increasing significantly.

We need good, intelligent people to be MPs. To attract them to the role it needs to pay well.

Today, our best and brightest can make many multiples of an MPs salary (in the long run) as a lawyer, consultant, doctor, engineer, banker or programmer, what effect do you think this will have on our nation over time, when it is effectively being run by people that are far from our smartest? Nothing good.

The country now is being run by people who are not the smartest - not even the smartest among Conservative MPs.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

for whatever reason the right wing zombies have chosen not to die on this paticular hill

Whatever prompts people to not imitate the grand old Duke of York on this occasion is a testament to a vestige of insight, and I salute it.

It also bodes well that in the wider world there is almost nothing but condemnation. John Major has just windmilled in on radio 5.

Let's hope this has a legacy.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Whatever prompts people to not imitate the grand old Duke of York on this occasion is a testament to a vestige of insight, and I salute it.

It also bodes well that in the wider world there is almost nothing but condemnation. John Major has just windmilled in on radio 5.

Let's hope this has a legacy.

Being the old cynic I am, I suspect that it's merely a lull whilst yet another set of duplicate accounts go through the NSC clearing process

Point 2 - you would certainly hope so at last, wouldn't you

 

[rogersix]

Whatever prompts people to not imitate the grand old Duke of York on this occasion is a testament to a vestige of insight, and I salute it.

It also bodes well that in the wider world there is almost nothing but condemnation. John Major has just windmilled in on radio 5.

Let's hope this has a legacy.

He's clearly just dashed round from the radio 4 studio's, that's a big windmill!

 

[Happy Exile]

The country now is being run by people who are not the smartest - not even the smartest among Conservative MPs.

I sometimes wonder how much better the country would have been if they'd chosen Rory Stewart as leader instead of Johnson. Or listened to the likes of Gauke and Grieve instead of hounding them out. Your comment rings true: the assumption the best and brightest become MPs is a dangerous one, as many are skilled at little more than "playing the game".

 

[faoileán]

I sometimes wonder how much better the country would have been if they'd chosen Rory Stewart as leader instead of Johnson. Or listened to the likes of Gauke and Grieve instead of hounding them out. Your comment rings true: the assumption the best and brightest become MPs is a dangerous one, as many are skilled at little more than "playing the game".

Just look at those 244 careerist Tories who shamelessly voted for the abolition of the Standards Committee; all they are thinking about is their future prospects because you would have to be extremely stupid to not see how corrupt it was.

 

[Happy Exile]

I should say as well, you shouldn't have to be the best and brightest to be an MP, you should just be capable of listening to people who know what they are talking about so you can make an evidence based decision that you're prepared to own the consequences of, because opinions can't overrule facts. Unfortunately we have Johnson, Nadine Dorries, Priti Patel, Gove, Raab...

 

[nicko31]

I still maintain what I said - in certain industries and certain roles you could get that money in 5 years or so without being exceptional.

I don’t think for an MP it is that outrageous money really.

Its not outrageous but with permitted expenses its enough to live on and they've taken the choice to serve us, you don't become an MP to maximise earnings. MP should not engaging in other business activities.

Most people who are employed do not also run businesses on the side, especially if there is a hint of conflict of interest

Rumours around Paterson could be made a peer, this would be another huge error from the government.

This government have no respect for the law, process or institutions, how did we end up like this?

 

[Machiavelli]

Whatever prompts people to not imitate the grand old Duke of York on this occasion is a testament to a vestige of insight, and I salute it.

It also bodes well that in the wider world there is almost nothing but condemnation. John Major has just windmilled in on radio 5.

Let's hope this has a legacy.

He was on the R4 Today programme beforehand, and his rage was well directed.

 

[Husty]

Many MPs are qualified lawyers, doctors and bankers.
Power and greed corrupt.

Do you think they left because they were true luminaries in their field? The odd one yes - Starmer for example. But plenty were useless. See e.g. Dominic raab who's often referred to as an ex-big-shot lawyer... He's little of the sort, couldn't hack a training contract.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Do you think they left because they were true luminaries in their field? The odd one yes - Starmer for example. But plenty were useless. See e.g. Dominic raab who's often referred to as an ex-big-shot lawyer... He's little of the sort, couldn't hack a training contract.

Who knows what their motivations were? I suspect their reasons are as varied as their personalities. My MP is a qualified nurse but votes against pay rises for nurses.

 

[lawros left foot]

Mad comparison. Ones at the very beginning of a career that will go on to be much more lucrative. The other is towards the end and has little prospect of it increasing significantly.

We need good, intelligent people to be MPs. To attract them to the role it needs to pay well.

Today, our best and brightest can make many multiples of an MPs salary (in the long run) as a lawyer, consultant, doctor, engineer, banker or programmer, what effect do you think this will have on our nation over time, when it is effectively being run by people that are far from our smartest? Nothing good.

How much would you pay them?

 

[rogersix]

Its not outrageous but with permitted expenses its enough to live on and they've taken the choice to serve us, you don't become an MP to maximise earnings. MP should not engaging in other business activities.

Most people who are employed do not also run businesses on the side, especially if there is a hint of conflict of interest

Rumours around Paterson could be made a peer, this would be another huge error from the government.

This government have no respect for the law, process or institutions, how did we end up like this?

we voted for it, or didn't vote against it

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Kathryn Stone - the British independent standards commissioner - has been given police protection after threats against her life.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Kathryn Stone - the British independent standards commissioner - has been given police protection after threats against her life.

For goodness sake. I despair at the situation we find ourselves in.

 

[jcdenton08]

Who knows what their motivations were? I suspect their reasons are as varied as their personalities. My MP is a qualified nurse but votes against pay rises for nurses.

Maria was part of the May brigade. She is without a "home" again but has never, once, in her political "career" even challenged the whip.

 

[Raleigh Chopper]

Kathryn Stone - the British independent standards commissioner - has been given police protection after threats against her life.

I don't get it, she has done nothing wrong, who is sending these threats, hardline Tory supporters?
The Government tried to push her out of her job didn't they, or have I got this wrong.
Confused of Plymouth.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Maria was part of the May brigade. She is without a "home" again but has never, once, in her political "career" even challenged the whip.

She was promoted to junior whip and since then has been promoted to an under secretary in the DWP ministers office. She’s ambitious and will vote like a sheep.
Her majority halved in 2019 so hopefully will be voted out next time, although if the boundary changes go through, it will strengthen the Tory vote.

I don't get it, she has done nothing wrong, who is sending these threats, hardline Tory supporters?
The Government tried to push her out of her job didn't they, or have I got this wrong.
Confused of Plymouth.

Yes, they tried to get a loaded committee with Carrie’s old boss in charge, but were stopped. There are som right wing nutters who think anything against the government is ‘treason’, and will take matters into their own hands. Hopefully it is only threats and nothing actually happens. Intimidation is still nasty, though.