MP’S “SNOUTS IN THE TROUGH”?

04-07-2008

News that MPs have vowed to retain their annual £24 second homes allowance and maintain the “John Lewis” list has prompted accusations in the media that MPs are “keeping their snouts in the trough”. On the airwaves of Talksport, Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg finds the charge is readily echoed by the public.

Hosting the station’s Incredibly Early Breakfast Show this morning, I floated the question – what is a fair wage for an MP?

It generated a busy response – and, predictably, few callers and texters felt the current wage of £62,000 was justified. The decision to keep topping it up with additional allowances was seen as particularly insensitive in the current belt-tightening climate.

One respondent suggested they should be forced to spend a year on the national minimum wage; another said that a nurse’s wage should set the benchmark for our parliamentarians.

Rob from Wolverhampton (not the MP Mr Marris) argued that they should have an increase in their basic salary to £80,000 – but in return, the second homes allowance and the John Lewis list should be scrapped.

He suggested that Westminster officials should use their bulk purchasing power to buy discounted rooms at good quality hotels in central London, eliminating the need for extras.

West Midlands Ministers Jacqui Smith and Ian Austin both voted to maintain the status quo.

Adrian Goldberg will be presenting between 1am-6am every Tuesday-Friday on Talksport for the rest of July. Tune in on 1053 or 1089AM or via www.talksport.net

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