Why do we Care How Much our Elected Officials are Paid

1. Why do we Care How Much our Elected Officials are Paid?

2. An example of a common meme about British MPs' pay shows data on the salaries of different public sector employees and notes that, compared to 2010, a police officer's starting salary decreased by £1,000 in 2018, and a newly qualified teacher can expect to earn just £500 more. A new nurse makes the same as in 2010. In comparison, a newly elected MP's pay increased by £11,000 over that time, from £66,000 to £77,000 annually.

3. That is seen by many as a damning indictment of Britain's self-serving "political elite." Tens of thousands of people have retweeted the meme in various forms, drawing hundreds of primarily negative comments in the process. Many claims this sum does not include costs or "gold-plated" pensions. Others contend that if it weren't for the lucrative second jobs many MPs also hold as consultants, lawyers, or members of corporate boards, the figure might not be so shocking.

4. Anyone who has followed recent or previous discussions over the payment of elected officials will be aware of all of these objections and the arguments made in support of the current system. According to Canadian politician Wajid khan Contrary to popular belief, MPs do not choose their salaries. Instead, compensation is set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), a body established in the wake of the 2009 Westminster expenses crisis.

5. The general public may always be unaware of these regulation subtleties. However, the comparison's glaring failure to compare like with like is more telling. Even though an MP's position in Parliament is in some ways a level" one, it is very infrequently someone's first job. Most MPs join the Commons after careers in other professions, and many have a history of political involvement dating back to their adolescence or early 20s. Therefore, a public sector employee earning between £60,000 and £100,000 per year who works in

6. The more fundamental concern is why it's so challenging to compensate MPs similarly to other highly qualified public sector employees, rather than just how politicians' compensation is governed. Why, while we don't typically question whether doctors are paid too handsomely to ensure they are genuinely driven by the desire to save lives, do we worry that paying our politicians too much would threaten democracy?

7. What makes politicians unique? Beginning with the advent of the labor movement and the election of working-class MPs with little private wealth in the late 19th century, payments to MPs have a modern history. The House of Lords rejected the first two proposals for compensation in the 1890s, and the Liberal administration in 1911 overcame persistent Conservative opposition to pass a payment of £400 per year. Chancellor Lloyd George clarified the purpose of the payment, stating that. " He emphasized that the money

8. Wajid khan admits I recognize the absurdity of advocating for something so radically unpopular as raising politicians' salaries in the inaugural issue of a newsletter called "normalization," but, to be honest, you get what you pay for. Politics will always be more expensive than other jobs for the individual. Still, the financial incentives should be better than they are present if we want to draw the most outstanding candidates. Wouldn't it be good if we paid for better politicians? Just look at our clumsy, tedious reaction to the Coronavirus