Peak Lunacy ?

[1959_60]

Nail on the head there Sinkov.

Name me an industry where every worker is 100% honest (clue - there isn't one)

Politicians are scrutinised both publically and privately to within an inch of their lives - unlike any other profession in fact.
I would say that generally they are more honest than the average person but any indiscretion at all is soon all over the media.

I have met loads of MP's and I have to say that I hold most of them in high regard.

And I also believe that, given their responsibility, they are grossly under paid.

Doing a similar job in the private sector would bring them ten times more money - and none of the intense personal scrutiny to go with it.

Perhaps that's why the quality of politicians leaves a lot to be desired - why would a really talented person become an MP when they can earn £££ more in a normal job, without the scrutiny and not be subjected to being re-elected every 4/5 years?

[The Bedlington Terrier]

Nail on the head there Sinkov.

Name me an industry where every worker is 100% honest (clue - there isn't one)

Politicians are scrutinised both publically and privately to within an inch of their lives - unlike any other profession in fact.
I would say that generally they are more honest than the average person but any indiscretion at all is soon all over the media.

I have met loads of MP's and I have to say that I hold most of them in high regard.

And I also believe that, given their responsibility, they are grossly under paid.

Doing a similar job in the private sector would bring them ten times more money - and none of the intense personal scrutiny to go with it.

Perhaps that's why the quality of politicians leaves a lot to be desired - why would a really talented person become an MP when they can earn £££ more in a normal job, without the scrutiny and not be subjected to being re-elected every 4/5 years?

Your old mucker Clegg certainly landed on his feet, which is not at all half bad for a witless, spineless, disingenuous half wit.

[sinkov]

which is not at all half bad for a witless, spineless, disingenuous half wit.

Hey, you leave Theresa May out of this BT.

[sinkov]

Nail on the head there Sinkov.

Name me an industry where every worker is 100% honest (clue - there isn't one)

Politicians are scrutinised both publically and privately to within an inch of their lives - unlike any other profession in fact.
I would say that generally they are more honest than the average person but any indiscretion at all is soon all over the media.

I have met loads of MP's and I have to say that I hold most of them in high regard.

And I also believe that, given their responsibility, they are grossly under paid.

Doing a similar job in the private sector would bring them ten times more money - and none of the intense personal scrutiny to go with it.

Perhaps that's why the quality of politicians leaves a lot to be desired - why would a really talented person become an MP when they can earn £££ more in a normal job, without the scrutiny and not be subjected to being re-elected every 4/5 years?

I have much less respect and faith in our political class than you 59/60, the vast majority I regard with not much more than contempt. However, on the expenses scandal I do have some sympathy for some of the MPs caught up in it, not all by any means but some of them. I haven't Googled or checked back on this, I'm just going off what I can remember reading at the time, and it was in regard to an increase in MPs pay. They decide their own pay, and discuss their pay rises on the floor of the house. Someone, possibly Blair, Brown, the Speaker, Leader of the House, no idea now, I can't remember, suggested that it would look bad awarding themselves a pay rise, even though they were falling behind and it was justified and needed, and so they should forego one. But it was also suggested there was a way to boost their pay to make up the shortfall. They had a very generous, and very loosely policed, expenses scheme, MPs were encouraged to make the most imaginative use they could of that scheme, to make up for the fact that they really were struggling to carry out their duties on the wages they were paid.

This green light, if not to fiddle their expanses, at least to make the most of the scheme, came right from the top of all three parties, and obviously struggling backbench MPs took this advice at face value and pushed for as much as they could, why would they not. Of course some took it much too far, they were greedy and were taking the piss, but many were mislead into thinking what they were doing with their expenses was perfectly acceptable, was their off the books pay rise so to speak, and had official approval. In short the word came from the top, you're not getting a pay rise, make it up on your expenses, and many were caught up in a scandal not of their own making, and for those I do have some sympathy.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

The Ribble Valley Bubble syndrome strikes again! People are living off food banks and the abysmal Universal Credit benefits scandal whilst this lot no doubt continue to take the pish...

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-new...0-most-2266854