MP’s – what are they really worth?

We recruit executives for our clients and they tell us that we provide the best value in the industry. I say this just to establish a little credibility to this blog.

There will undoubtedly be a great many constituency vacancies very soon as our existing MP’s cut and run. Now if we were asked to put forward suitable candidates I have to say that we would be unable and unwilling to take on such an assignment. The basic salary of £64,000 with no bonus, no commission, no share option and thoroughly messy expense/benefit arrangements would not bring forward any quality candidates that we would submit to our client. Furthermore this job has unsavoury hours, little family life, no privacy, guaranteed press intrusion and a public perception below that of a double glazing sales person.

This has to be solved if we are going to get the calibre of candidates and future MP’s who will have the ability, the intelligence and experience to run our country. So here are my recommendations for a suitable package:

1. Basic salary £80 – £100K dependent on experience

2. For each re-election (long term service award) a further £8,000

3. A reward and recognition system for attendance and contribution to Parliamentary debates. (I am intentionally not specific here)

4. Expense on a par with normal business, but not the public sector. For example business travel should be business class, all reimbursement of out of pocket expenses attributable to parliamentary and constituency purposes. Any Member of Parliament whose constituency and/or home is outside a radius of 50 miles from Parliament has an overnight accommodation allowance. Foreign business travel has to be approved by the Party Leader or nominated executive.

5. Employment of staff can be open to family members but their performance, qualifications and ability has to be approved by their Constituency Party Chairman.

I suppose the above is too simple and too loaded with commonsense to be adopted, all I know is that we could find some good quality people that the public would be very pleased with as Members of Parliament and who would bring back the respect and trust to the Mother of all Parliaments.