Many public service roles pay far less than our MPS

J WRIGHT (Mail Box, November 25) gets “the impression” I am making “party political points” in my letter (November 19), which drew on data from the Office for National

Statistics to update my knowledge of the UK’S pay structure, acquired during 36 years as a university teacher and 11 years’ work for the Workers’ Educational Association.

He writes that I “do not address the fact that £82,000 does not reflect the hours worked by MPS, or more importantly the pressure, responsibility and, yes, the danger of their jobs compared with other forms of employment”.

His original letter (November 17) did not ask readers to discuss that. It merely wondered whether “£80,000 a year should be considered a proper gross salary for an MP (and no other earned income)”.

My response focused on MPS’ and some footballers’ pay in the context of the UK’S well-documented pay inequality.

However, I am happy to compare the attributes he accords to MPS with a range of other public service occupations, such as doctors, nurses, ambulance staff, care workers, social workers, police officers, soldiers and teachers.

All perform essential services for the community, all have considerable responsibility for people’s safety, health and welfare, all have to cope with pressure and all experience abuse and danger.

Of those listed above, only some GPS and hospital consultants are paid more than MPS, while the other jobs get considerably less.

Mr Wright asserts MPS should be paid more in order to “attract the best candidates to run the country”. Simply saying “best” is open to many interpretations. Members from different political parties will diverge when applying selection criteria.

Mr Wright proposes MPS should get more than £81,932 and he feels “we must remunerate them realistically ...” He puts no figure on this, referring to “executive salary levels elsewhere in society”.

There is a critical difference between the role a CEO of a private or public company and that of an MP.

MPS are democratically elected; CEOS, however, are not.

Paying higher salaries to MPS may attract individuals into politics for the wrong reasons: the financial perks of the role as opposed to a commitment to the public service ethos.

Michael Somerton.