Twice As Much Outside?

MPs are not to be given their pay rise after all. Cue the cries of, "I could make twice as much outside."

From the public sector middle-class people whose union reps had taken them to one side and told them that they had peaked, but that Labour seats had been arranged to keep them ticking over for the next 20 to 25 years.

From the private sector middle-class people who had been taken to one side at the Rotary Club or the Masons and told that they had peaked, but that Conservative seats had been arranged to keep them ticking over for the next 20 to 25 years.

And from the cross-party collection of people who had simply taken over the seats of the close relatives or the family friends who had been their only previous employers.

In point of fact, regardless of party, people who lose their seats in Parliament stand a more than 50 per cent chance of still being unemployed 12 months later.

12 months ago, there were 3,415 candidates at the General Election. Add in those who unsuccessfully sought selection by their political parties, and a figure of 10,000 would not be unreasonable. There is no shortage of people who would like to be MPs. 

And we would have no trouble living on £81,932 per annum, plus vast, self-certified expenses. I am the Independent parliamentary candidate for North West Durham.