MPs must lead by example
Come hell or high water, Parliamentarians have served themselves yet another allowance and the Government has found the money for it by raising the price of diesel sending food prices of common folk still higher.
It is a widespread belief that MPs no longer live in a pecuniary state and that they don’t live by their salaries and allowances alone; not surprising when one sees their lifestyle – and those of their brood. To say that MPs need more cash in hand to pay for wedding gifts and funerals of their constituents is a pathetic justification for an increased allowance. A better move might have been to give MPs some Research Assistants who can prepare them to make more substantial contributions to Parliamentary debates.
Ask any old-timer interested in Parliamentary affairs and they would tell you how Advanced Level students and undergraduates were often encouraged by their teachers and professors to read
the official record of Parliamentary proceedings, to widen their horizons in the field of economics, agriculture, world affairs etc., Today, in Parliament, most contributions are a mere cacophony of voices and carbon dioxide, often bordering on the unprintable.
If Parliamentarians wish to give to themselves a ‘living wage’ which takes into account their spending obligations their constituents, there has to be a a corresponding cap on allowing them to accept so-called party funds and campaign contributions (which are IOUs), and kickbacks for liquor licences and stop them making a quick buck by selling their duty free car permits. This week’s additional allowance is on top of all of this. MPs are now given all the allowances under the sun, and permitted to make hay while the sun shines as well.
While it is true that low pay packages for MPs leave them vulnerable and in situations where they can be easily influenced, if MPs are to be considered leaders of the people, they must surely set the example in frugality. Jumping the queue and serving more and more onto their plates first when senior-most judges, public servants and the ordinary public sector workers have to wait their turn to fill their empty plates, is not leadership by example.