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Speaker contender calls for reform of MPs' two-day week
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent09.06.09
MPs are not doing the job for which they are paid with the parliamentary week "shoe-horned" into two days, says a frontrunner to be Speaker.
Tory grandee Sir George Young criticised the running of the Commons, saying MPs make "ineffective use" of their time.
He suggested that Prime Minister's Questions should be moved from Wednesday to Thursday as part of reforms to restore the reputation of Parliament.
Critics have accused some MPs, who are paid £64,700-a-year, of working little more than a two-day week in Parliament, arriving late on Monday and leaving early on Thursday for their constituencies.
Dozens also have lucrative second jobs.
Many backbenchers are furious at claims they spend little time at Westminster and do hardly any work during the 12-week summer break, insisting they are busy in their constituencies.
Sir George, though, made clear he believes the parliamentary timetable needs a radical shake-up: "The parliamentary week is shoe-horned into Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when too many meetings are scheduled.
"We should move Prime Minister's Questions from Wednesday to Thursday to bring Thursdays more into play."
Outlining his vision as Speaker, the MP for North West Hampshire, told The Times: "Our procedures are antiquated, our language arcane and the Chamber has joined those of most other democracies as no longer being the cockpit of the nation.
"We make ineffective use of MPs' time and don't do what we are paid to do.
"Our output simply does not match our input; many MPs get home exhausted, wondering if their day was well spent."
Calling for a reform agenda for the Commons, Sir George proposed greater independence for Parliament including:
A new business committee of MPs to set the Commons agenda rather than "dancing to the Government's tune".
More scrutiny of legislation.
More focus on select committees rather than the Chamber.
Better access to Parliament for the public.
The new Speaker being an ambassador for the House.
Clearer rules on how to get rid of a Speaker.
Sir George, chairman of the Commons standards and privileges committee, also called for "justice" and a "fair and rational process" for disciplining MPs who abused expenses, stressing that punishment must reflect the severity of the offence.
Many MPs have been shocked at Labour's move to ban Norwich North MP Ian Gibson from standing at the next election. He is quitting to force a by-election.
It came after revelations he claimed almost £80,000 in second home expenses on a London flat he later sold at a knock-down price to his daughter.
He has insisted the claims were legitimate, as he was staying at the address three nights a week.
Other candidates to be the next Speaker include Tory John Bercow, supported by many Labour MPs, and Labour MP Frank Field.
Reader views (6)
Lets have the three month holiday cut down to one month too. I agree with Reuben Camara that there are far too many MPs'. We used to run an Empire with less. There also all those seat warmers in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the EU too.
- Fred, Horsham
I don't object to MP's having second jobs. After all they do need experience of the world outside Parliament and many of them have never had "proper" jobs having previously been researchers, lecturers,local government representatives, etc. However, as their outside employment is secondary to their Parliamentary role, anything that they earn should be paid over to the Parliamentary authorities, if not in total, then up to the level of their Parliamentary salary.
- C Byrne, Pinner, U.K.
Hold on now, if my MP were to travel into London more than 2 days a week he wouldn't have enough time to turn up to the opening of an envelope (but only if it were attended by the local press). That way lies madness, no one would know who he was, he wouldn't be able to make a song and dance about "working for the community", when in fact he's a brush off merchant. Next election, just remember, your neighbours still remember the mobile mast debacle when you wouldn't give us the time of day.
- Bob, Cheam
<>Dozens also have lucrative second jobs<>
Then let this be known at the next election and kick them out. Give us the information press. Jezzz
- Ge, Kernow
IS SOMEBODY TRYING TO WIND UP JOE PUBLIC?
£64,700 p.a. SALARY. FOR WHAT? TWO DAYS A WEEK IN THE HOUSE OF CONMEN, THE REST OF THEIR TIME COINING IT BIG TIME BY BEING "CONSULTANTS" AND DIRECTORS OF COUNTLESS COMPANIES.
WHY DOES IT TAKE 645 MP's TO ALLEGEDLY RUN THIS COUNTRY?
THE USA COPES VERY WELL WITH 200 LESS REPRESENTATIVES SERVING THE ELECTORATE THAN THE 645 SHYSTERS IN THE HOUSE OF CONMEN.
IF ANYBODY BELIEVES THAT BROWN IS GOING TO CHANGE, OR CHANGE ANYTHING FOR THE BETTER, THEN THEY ARE AS DELUDED AS GORMLESS BROWN IS.
MP's DID NOT EVEN HAVE THE GUTS TO VOTE BROWN OUT OF DOWNING STREET. NO, MP's ARE TOO BUSY CONCENTRATING ON THEIR £64,700 SALARY AND £100,000,000 EXPENSES IN THE COMING YEAR.
JOE PUBLIC COUNTS FOR NOTHING.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe, Lancaster
To restore tax payers' respect for and confidence in the government - ALL MPs must be made repay the money they pilfered from the public purse. All their "second" homes have been paid for and furnished by tax payers and therefore must be sold and the proceeds returned to the treasury when they are kicked out of office.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
