Why would you become an M.P?

[seagull_special]

Money is not great, every little thing you do is under scrutiny, everyone hates you and you have to tow the party line.

Name me a reason to become an M.P

 

[Bluejuice]

Er, the taxpayer pays for pretty much ANYTHING you fancy and I'd hardly call the money poor

 

[Nottseagull]

you have to tow the party line.

Where do you have to tow it to?

 

[Gwylan]

Where do you have to tow it to?

Damn...beat me to it


I must say that an MP's life is not that cushy. I think the pay's pretty low for the level of responsibility and your life isn't your on.

Still, I believe there are plenty of opportunities for shagging...

 

[seagull_special]

Where do you have to tow it to?

Is it toe the line? wow I never knew that

 

[seagull_special]

Is it toe the line? wow I never knew that

There is some confusion between 'toe the line' and the frequently seen misspelling 'tow the line'. The 'tow' version is no doubt encouraged by the fact that ropes or cables on ships are often called lines and that 'tow lines' are commonplace nautical items.

The earlier meaning of 'to toe the line' was to position one's toes next to a marked line in order to be ready to start a race, or some other undertaking. In the 19th century, we wouldn't have been limited to lines when it came to placing our feet, but would have had a choice of what to toe - a mark, scratch, crack or trig [a line or small trench]. These were all then in use in 'toe the ...' phrases. The earliest version we know about is from The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan, 1813, by 'Hector Bull-Us' - known to his family and friends as James Paulding:

"He began to think it was high time to toe the mark."

Pauling was using the figurative rather than literal meaning of the phrase, i.e. to 'toe the mark' was to conform to a set standard.

Going back to the original, literal 'toeing' of a line; there are many circumstances where one might place one's toes up to a line - the start of a sporting event, standing in formation on parade, etc, etc. So, which is the source of the phrase?

 

[severnside gull]

Money is not great, every little thing you do is under scrutiny, everyone hates you and you have to tow the party line.

Name me a reason to become an M.P

I can think of more than a quarter of a million a year (salary plus non taxable expenses) plus what must be the best personal pension scheme anywhere; subsidised meals; extended holidays; free trips worldwide with first class travel; very reasonable working hours; guaranteed book publication and access to well paid media work including television or radio pundit and newspaper columns if you are any good;invitations to remunerated non executive directorships; and all-in-all (for most) relatively little responsibility for the remuneration offered.

Being disliked or distrusted I could deal with - no worse than being a traffic warden or an estate agent

 

[severnside gull]

There is some confusion between 'toe the line' and the frequently seen misspelling 'tow the line'. The 'tow' version is no doubt encouraged by the fact that ropes or cables on ships are often called lines and that 'tow lines' are commonplace nautical items.

The earlier meaning of 'to toe the line' was to position one's toes next to a marked line in order to be ready to start a race, or some other undertaking. In the 19th century, we wouldn't have been limited to lines when it came to placing our feet, but would have had a choice of what to toe - a mark, scratch, crack or trig [a line or small trench]. These were all then in use in 'toe the ...' phrases. The earliest version we know about is from The Diverting History of John Bull and Brother Jonathan, 1813, by 'Hector Bull-Us' - known to his family and friends as James Paulding:

"He began to think it was high time to toe the mark."

Pauling was using the figurative rather than literal meaning of the phrase, i.e. to 'toe the mark' was to conform to a set standard.

Going back to the original, literal 'toeing' of a line; there are many circumstances where one might place one's toes up to a line - the start of a sporting event, standing in formation on parade, etc, etc. So, which is the source of the phrase?

I believe that the phrase "to toe the line" refers to the lines drawn in front of the respective front benches in the House of Commons (the distance between which is two swords lengths apart) thus ensuring that honourable members who toed the line could not engage in physical conflict. It is the foundation of the debating skills for which the House was once rightly renowned (though perhaps less so today).

Could be bunkum but it's what they tell you on visits to the Houses of Parliament

 

[withdeanwombat]

Majority of MP's stroll about Parliament with nowt to do except go throught the correct corridor to vote (as told to vote,so no need to decide on too much),make contacts for next job,fiddle expenses ,get consultancy job for extra pay and pitch up in the constituency to listen to disgruntled locals.

Then,of course,there's the fact finding mission to Tahiti or wherever.

Don't do it. It sucks.

 

[Peteinblack]

I believe that the phrase "to toe the line" refers to the lines drawn in front of the respective front benches in the House of Commons (the distance between which is two swords lengths apart) thus ensuring that honourable members who toed the line could not engage in physical conflict. It is the foundation of the debating skills for which the House was once rightly renowned (though perhaps less so today).

Could be bunkum but it's what they tell you on visits to the Houses of Parliament

It's actually true !

Meanwhile, I don't know why anyone would want to become a police officer, teacher or social worker, considering the crap they have to put up with these days. And even staff in our hospitals are increasingly subject to foul-mouthed abuse and physical assault from scummy members of 'the great British public'.

This country becomes chavvier and more boorish all the time. Too many people have no self-respect, nor any respect for others, but aggressively demand respect.

 

[bigc]

I'm currently doing an internship for an MP at Westminster and I can confirm, their case anyway, it is ALOT of work..

There are the select committees you are a member of which you have to go to and be prepared for and contribute to. There are all parliamentary groups(cross party) where you do the same.

Not to mention the smaller scale constituency surgeries right up to working alongside local councils to back regeneration schemes and chasing up ministers to ensure your constituency gets its fair share.

 

[Gully]

Because my moat needs dredging!

 

[HampshireSeagulls]

Do you still get to shag Edwina Curry?

 

[Barrel of Fun]

What about Independants? Serve the local populous? Make a (small) difference?

 

[Taybha]

You get to sleepover at

Pad

 

[siclean]

to campaign to bring back hanging
to campaign to jail anyone caught with knife for 5 yr min
to campaign to have anyone caught driving and using mobile banned for 2 yrs ..yes 2 yrs. lets not pussyfoot about !!
to campaign to have drunks in street who get into fights etc pay for any medical care they have
to campaign to have burgalars jailed for min 20 yrs
thats just the start
anyone fancy voting for me ??

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Sorry, no.

 

[Starry]

my boy was doing a government project and wrote to our mp and asked him that very same question. he got back a very detailed response. email your mp and ask them. you might be surprised at the answer. it wasn't the stock i want to serve the community, change things for the better sort of thing. he came across as a power crazed egomaniac.

 

[bigc]

my boy was doing a government project and wrote to our mp and asked him that very same question. he got back a very detailed response. email your mp and ask them. you might be surprised at the answer. it wasn't the stock i want to serve the community, change things for the better sort of thing. he came across as a power crazed egomaniac.

Who was the MP in question?

 

[Starry]

michael mates. he did write something in support of falmer when you all had everyone contact their mp and we did that, though.