All aboard the Westminster gravy train

In 2014 it was announced House of Commons authorities have destroyed all evidence of MPs' expenses claims prior to 2010, meaning end of official investigations into scandal

It can be a pain getting holidays and annual leave booked at work but what if you are an MP?

In the UK, as things stand, we need good, decent and honest politicians but we are sometimes left wanting.

The people who stand to represent us however are only human beings when all is said and done. They have their own skills and life pressures.

They will never be able to please all of their constituents all of the time.

Doing the best they can however should be a given.

The salary of a politician is something many people can only dream about. But there are pros and cons and the system is used and abused by some.

Members of Parliament at times work long hours and are often working in their constituencies when parliament is in recess.

​But that is not true of all.

Recess, House rises, House returns
Whitsun 26 May 2016 - 6 June 2016
Recess 15 June 2016 - 27 June 2016
summer 21 July 2016 - 5 September 2016
Conference 21 September 2016 - 10 October 2016
November 8 November 2016 - 14 November 2016
Christmas 20 December 2016 - 9 January 2017
February 9 February 2017 - 20 February 2017
Easter 30 March 2017 - 18 April 2017
Whitsun 25 May 2017 - 5 June 2017

The set dates of recess mean any emergency that warrants a parliamentary recall will cost taxpayers dearly.

​When the house is sitting MPs enjoy perks such as a subsided bar and restaurant. Who oays for this? Why taxpayers of course.

A politicians working life is not always easy but Operks include a decent salary although at least one MP has complained it is not a living wage for him.

In 2014 "An income of almost £120,000 a year is not enough to live on in London according to Government minister Mark Simmonds, Tory, who says he is quitting politics because this does not “stretch” far enough. As a Foreign Office minister and MP, Mr Simmonds receives a salary of £89,435 and is also entitled to an annual housing allowance of £27,875 for him and his family."

A Toy minister? A member of a government slashing budgets and inflicting financial pain.

Pay and expenses for MPs.
​The basic annual salary for an MP from 1 April 2016 is £74,962. MPs also receive expenses to cover the costs of running an office, employing staff, having somewhere to live in London and in their constituency, and travelling between Parliament and their constituency

Some MPs such as Jess Philips employ a relative to run the show. Mrs Philips husband took on the role of her office manager a month after she was elected in 2015.

Is that two on board the gravy train or a necessary expense funded by taxpayers?

But check out this report in the Birmingham Mail "New MP Jess Phillips employs her husband as assistant in taxpayer-funded job."

That report highlights mainly Labour MPs as it is concentrating on one area of the country but it is a cross-party problem.

The electorate in the UK is being turned of politics for many reasons.

One is certainly the them and us culture reinforced by politicians who set the bar low for the population but raise it for themselves.

Is it a hard life being a politician? Possibly. Is it a hard life being a refuse collector, road sweeper, nurse, carer, supermarket shelf filler, office worker and more earning the minimum wage and coping with in work benefit cuts handed down by politicians? You tell me!

Valuable resource https://www.theyworkforyou.com/

More:
​http://parliamentarystandards.org.uk/payandpensions/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/latest/remembering-maria-miller-expense-scandal
​http://www.newtekjournalismukworld.com/latest/allegations-of-sleaze-and-corruption-still-dog-westminster