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Chief Whip orders 'idle' MPs to pull their weight
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor20 Mar 2009
MPs are to face new work-rate targets after a Cabinet minister admitted some Labour backbenchers were "idle".
Chief Whip Nick Brown set out plans for a quota system to prevent hard-working MPs from shouldering the workload of colleagues.
"Idleness creates a burden on the rest of the people," Mr Brown said. He revealed that around five per cent of MPs were responsible for a quarter of all unauthorised absences from Westminster, but refused to name them.
However, Mr Brown's crackdown on laziness could expose the Government's role in the increase of empty green benches in the House of Commons.
Following changes to working hours, MPs who used to attend four days a week are now operating a two-and-a-half day week. The House of Commons often rises early on a Thursday, criticised by Tories who want urgent debates on the economy.
Including weekends, MPs got 10 days off last month. They will get 17 days off at Easter, 10 at Whitsun and an 82-day break during the summer. Although Labour has introduced "constituency Fridays", critics say it is difficult to check how much work an MP does.
Next week, Mr Brown will dictate to MPs the minimum number of debates, hearings and votes they must attend.
Reader views (6)
"Including weekends, MPs got 10 days off last month."
As an ex-investment banking IT person I'm used to being forced to work weekends for no pay, but for most of the population, working weekends is not the norm.
So excluding weekends, MPs got 2 days off last week. That would average out to 24 days hol a year - hardly an outrageous number (still more than I get though!)
- Sarah, London, 21/03/2009 09:21
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That's it then! If they expect you to work as well as make daft speeches, then I'm not going to try to become an MP at the next election. They've got some rum ideas this lot. My mate who is an MP says he finds he's got very little time left over after he's hidden his expenses under the bed and paid off his family and in-laws. And 82 days off for the summer hols is too much, he says. It cuts into the time available for free trips abroad, 'fact-finding'.
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK, 20/03/2009 17:31
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there are over 2 million people who would enjoy the salary and the hours, not to mention the expenses and pensions, who would be more than willing to take over and do a little bit more.
How about taking the slot and getting some of the others in to do a good job rather than being leeches?
- Hugh, Middx, 20/03/2009 17:27
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Make them have appraisals like anyone else who is lucky to be working,must go through!Their pay can then be linked to the amount of positive work that they actually do, and any positive results they might attain. As for their holidays, it's an absolute disgrace!That's almost 17 weeks per year!The teachers will be complaining next that thay don't get enough in comparison!
- Meldroo, Oldham, England, 20/03/2009 17:25
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Make MP's clock in and clock out and pay them only for the hours they attend like many factory workers. at the minimum wage. And make them answer for their expenses.
- Albert Hall, hove england, 20/03/2009 16:56
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The more idle the better a state of permanent idleness would suit most of the public ! As for Gordies targets, a barn door at ten paces ...........
- Wills, Soton, 20/03/2009 11:28
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