Election 2010: Leaders scrap over economy and tax cuts

The Moron's election

This has been the moron’s election. Vague hints as to how they may tackle the deficit. A deficit so huge which none of them have the stomach to spell out to the public in detail. I haven’t heard one peep about the subject which has caused a greater disaffection with politics than any other that I can ever recall – the expenses scandal. It looks like they hope it is al forgotten and it will be snouts in troughs as usual. If I was in charge for a day I would want to institute the following Ten Commandments for potential MPs. 1. Ordinary MPs salaries no more then £75k p.a subject to the condition that no one earns more than 15% above that which they got in the job they had prior to entering Parliament. That should stop anyone from entering Parliament for the money. Ministers of course will get a rising scale – depending on seniority. Just like any other business. 2. An MP must have had relevant experience. Being a career politician doesn’t qualify. Nor does having been a teacher. You will have had to have done a real job for at least 5 years prior. You must also have attained above average education and passed an independently set intelligence test. 3. You must live in your constituency. If you don’t – you will have to move there and only receive removal expenses equivalent to the average paid by industry to their employees who have to move. No allowances for second homes. If you are outside London then the Government will establish a MPs Hotel by converting one of the government buildings. You may stay there free. But no food allowances – you have to eat anyway so why does it matter where you eat? 4. You will not receive travel expenses. You will receive an Oyster Type card which will allow you to commute to your constituency by 2nd class travel – only during Parliamentary sessions. 5. Secretarial and admin assistance will be provided from a pool and will be free of charge. You will be allowed so many man/hours of admin work per session. 6. There will be no final salary pension. You will. Have a NEST plan – like anyone else. 7. There will be no other perks or expenses. 8. Attendance at the House when sitting will be compulsory. Any committee work or other duties will be carried out outside these times and may be subject to an extra standardised agreed payment. If on a committee attendance at all meetings will be compulsory if the extra payment is made. Any absences will have deductions to the extra payment pro rata as will absences from the house when in session. 9. MPs will have no favourable tax treatment and will be taxed in exactly the same way as the rest of the population. 10. Ex gratia payments on loosing a seat and leaving the House will be exactly as per that when any other employee looses their job. There will be a complete embargo on any ex Member of Parliament making money out of his Parliamentary experiences. That ladies and gentlemen – who think you are so suited and able to tell the rest of us how to run our lives – is how it works in the real world.

Posted by: Harry Katz

People out on the street

none of these three parasites care about the people that have already had their homes repossessed and sold off so that the banks could release capital to keep afloat - Now that the banks are creaming off 3% above what they can borrow money at are they going to reinstate families to the position they were in before the goverment allowed this to happen - ?

Posted by: Ray Hamilton