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'Public should have say over pay-offs for shamed MPs'
Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor29 May 2009
Voters should be able to veto "golden goodbyes" for disgraced MPs, Nick Clegg said today.
The Liberal Democrat leader hit out at pay-offs of more than £100,000 for MPs and their staff, which in many cases include relatives.
Commons Leader Harriet Harman also stressed that the anti-sleaze watchdog, the Committee on Standards in Public Life, would examine whether the pay-offs should be cut to end the "old boys' club" at Westminster.
MPs forced out now would miss out on a resettlement grant of up to a year's salary, based on age and years of service, but if they cling on to the general election they would qualify for the money.
David Cameron's former aide Andrew MacKay, who has been forced to stand down as MP for Bracknell at the next election, could get a £64,700 payment despite claiming tens of thousands of pounds in housing allowance even though he did not have a proper second home.
The first £30,000 is tax free and MPs also get £42,000 to "wind down" their offices - making a total, once the tax free element is taken into account, of more than £120,000.
Other politicians who could get the maximum include "duck island" Conservative Sir Peter Viggers, "moat" MP Douglas Hogg and Sir Nicholas and Ann Winterton.
Mr Clegg said: "If someone has done something seriously wrong, it should be up to their constituents whether they should stay on as MPs and claim these very generous salary and pay-offs."
Reader views (11)
and no doubt none of this will happen, these scum will all get pensions, knighthoods, jobs in teh Lords, jobs on quangos or in the lords or both while ordinary Britons suffer
- Neil, London, 29/05/2009 22:36
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Anyone caught with their hands in the till is normally dismissed immediately and is liable to prosecution.
They are certainly not allowed to state their date of departure in order to collect additional payments.
This bunch of Rt Hons are really no better than common thieves as they attempt to brazen it out for another year even although they are now totally impotent as MP's.
- Scotty, Cambridge UK, 29/05/2009 21:24
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Surely it's worth a £100,000 each to get rid of the creeps. It's not that much on top of the £850,000 each MP costs the state (the taxpayer) all up. No kidding. that's what they cost, each, including the House of Commons costs, etc. Do we need them? 646?!!!
- John Problem, Hackney Wick, London, UK, 29/05/2009 17:00
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NOT SINCE I FIRST VOTED IN THE EARLY FIFTIES HAVE I BEEN SO DISGUSTED AND ANGRY WITH WITH MPS. THE PARTY LEADERS SHOULD GET THE MESSAGE QUICKLY, ITS NOT ENOUGH TO PAY ANY MONEY CLAIMED BACK, THEY SHOULD RESIGN NOW.
LAST WEEK I READ A STORY ABOUT A MAN MADE REDUNDANT AFTER THIRTY YEARS WORK GETTING ONLY £50 A WEEK BECAUSE HIS WIFE WORKS FOR TWO DAYS, THEY MAY WELL LOOSE THEIR HOME.
BROWN HAS IGNORD HIS OWN PARLIAMENTARY OMBUDSMAN OVER EQUITABLE LIFE DISASTER SO AFTER FIFTY YEARS WORK I HAVE LOST TWO THIRDS OF MY PENSION.
YET DISGRACED MPS CLING ON SO THEY GET SEVERANCE PAY OF UP TO £50000, PLUS A PENSION.
THE POLICE OF COURSE ARE AS USUAL THEIR USELESS SELF. NOTHING NEW HERE. THEY CHARGE SOME POOR WOMAN WITH FRAUD , FOR TRYING TO GET A GOOD EDUCATION FOR HER CHILD, SOMETHING THAT THIS GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE OVER TEN YEARS, YET MPS FIDDLE A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND, NO DOUBT THATS IN THE RULES BOYS, THEIR RULES THAT IS.
BUT THEN THE POLICE RETIRE ON FINAL SALARY PENSION IN THEIR FIFTIES, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD QUITE EASILY MOVE TO OFFICE WORK WITHIN THE FORCE.
- Alan Green, Woodford Green, 29/05/2009 16:30
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I FEEL LIKE SCREAMING!!!!!!!
These lying, thieving, immoral parasites should be sacked, and sacked NOW!
Oh, I cannot wait to go to the Polling Station next week, but there again I would bet my last penny that they "rig" the results with cardboard boxes as were witnessed in the mayoral elections.
We ARE a Banana Republic, brought to us courtesy of New Liebour!
- Mrs, London UK, 29/05/2009 16:25
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I agree with the sentiments expressed by Nick Clegg, but I did not think it legally possible to apply this sanction to the current crop of MPs. I note he keeps saying ought and should - perhaps an indication that it cannot be done legally? If so, he is just politicking and grandstanding.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 29/05/2009 16:23
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I agree with every word by Bryan Odell. Much more attention too should be paid to the over bloated pensions of these crooked MPs'. I worked for eleven years for the MoD but get no pension. Its quite possible to serve even twenty one years and still get no pension. Contrast that for example to what that old thug of a Speaker is going to get.
- Fred, Horsham, 29/05/2009 15:14
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Mrinal Patel will appear in court next week , charged under the Fraud Act.She lied about her address in order to get her child into a good state school.She was wrong to do that.
But , witness how authority SPRINGS INTO ACTION against an ordinary mother.
INSTANTLY charged with FRAUD , IMMEDIATELY summoned to APPEAR IN COURT !
For the THEFT OF HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS of taxpayers money , for committing FRAUD ON A GRAND SCALE , how many MPs will appear in court NEXT WEEK ? How many MPs will appear in court EVER ?
If any politician anywhere , thinks this present "FUSS" is going to go away , they are WRONG !
Angry , does not even BEGIN to describe the mood of the people.
Be afraid politicians , be very afraid. The worm that was the docile electorate , has finally turned.
- Bryan Odell, Knokke , Belgium, 29/05/2009 11:51
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These MPs jumped up and down in anger at the bonus culture of the City and have been shouting out loud against rewarding failure. But when it comes to lining their own pockets, the rules seem to change. There should be NO PAY OFFS FOR SHAMED MPs.
- Goggs, London, 29/05/2009 10:48
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These people have engaged in conduct widely viewed as immoral and unethical.
In the real world, such behaviour would probably constitute gross misconduct and lead to instant dismmissal. Stay on for another year to receive an enhanced payoff? You cou;dn't make it up.
The arrogaqnce and effrontery of these people defies description. They should go now with their heads hung low with the shame they have brought upon our Parliment and our Country.
- John, Leatherhead, UK, 29/05/2009 09:53
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Disgraced MPs should not be allowed to "step down at the next election". They should be sacked and made repay what they have stolen from the tax payers. There must be no "resettlement grant". We have already paid for second homes for each of them and paid their obscene expenses. To financially reward them on their retirement would be adding insult to injury.
- R.F., Yorks, UK, 29/05/2009 09:47
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