Quote:
Originally Posted by Gayle
Sir Tom McKillop - Chair of RBS took home £471,000 in 2009
Sir Peter Middleton - Chair of Barclays was paid a whopping £1.76m
I'm not saying it's right and I'm certainly not going to argue that £80k isn't a lot of money, but let's put it in perspective. We're paying some of these Chairmen a huge amount of money for running banks - isn't it right that we should make it attractive to be an MP and for running the country?
So, my quibble isn't with the amount that MPs, County Councillors or Councillors take home, I think they earn and deserve every penny - my only concern would be that - long term- they would be spreading themselves a bit thinly by trying to do all three. However, I think that - short term - it's probably a good idea to keep hold of the positions that they already have so that it keeps them 'in the loop' when it comes to making decisions at all levels.
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I can see your argument. I don't think you can compare the two however. If the chairman of a private bank (yes I know RBS is currently nationalised) was paid a lower sum of money, the talent would almost certainly move elsewhere. I don't think this is the case for Members of Parliament. The £65,000 salary is already in the top percentage of incomes. There is no shortage of people applying to selections, even in so called 'safe seats'.
My problem in this case though is not the money, it is the ability of an individual to do three jobs. Graham has already stated that he would not take an allowance from district and county council. I disagree with him - if he is doing a job he should take the appropriate salary for it. Given however that an MP would need to be in London during weekdays, I find it hard to believe that an MP would be able to carry out the jobs of district and county councillor and that of an MP simultaneously.
A good constituency MP should be in communication with council, councillors and the electorate on a frequent basis anyway, without needing to occupy two additional elected offices. It would be interesting to see what Greg Pope thought on the issue.