Summary
The UK government is considering tighter rules on MPs earning substantial incomes from media contracts, following scrutiny of figures like Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage, who made six-figure sums as GB News presenters.
Leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, will address the standards committee on limiting such earnings, citing concerns about reputational risks and conflicts of interest.
Current rules prohibit MPs from being paid for advising on parliamentary work, but the proposed changes aim to further curb outside earnings and restore trust in politics.
Being an MP is an exceptional role, or at least it should be.
Exactly, and a lot of people find it hard to swallow, but we should absolutely want the best and most able people as our MPs, not just the people who were born in to wealth and have nothing better to do.
That means if a great scientists, doctors, business men, engineers etc etc need to be tempted to become MPs rather than take private sectors roles, then they should be. To me this means the salary must be very attractive and I’m fine with this also meaning “no second jobs”.
Inb4: “yh, but being an MP has prestige, it’s worth more than money!!!”.
How many people do you know that do a job for the prestige of it? How many banks accept prestige for their mortgage repayments? Money is the bottom line and if you want more talent and less Jacob Rees Mogg, you have to pay for it.
Another aspect that plays into deciding the level of pay for elected officials, is to also reduce the appeal of bribes/corruption. Obviously there should/need to be laws to prevent that as well, but some people will always skirt og break the rules if there is a large enough gain.