Owen Jones Is Entirely Outraged MPs Get Maternity Pay – Death Of Democracy Stuff

It’s possible to share the underlying outrage informing Owen Jones’ insistence here. Why should the ruling classes gain access to pots of our money for doing nothing? Members of Parliament are there to support our governmental system. There are things they should be doing, holding the executive to account, all those sorts of good things. So, the idea that they can just swan off and change nappies for 6 months while still getting paid by us is indeed an outrage:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Imagine this for a gig. You get paid £79,468 a year for doing no discernible work, occasionally get to wear some funky-looking suits, prance around one of the world’s most iconic buildings, and even have subsidised meals thrown into the bargain. This is lifestyle that Chloe Smith, a Member of Parliament , might recognise, according to a Guardian investigation. You, as a taxpayer, forked out the equivalent of three nurses’ salary annualised last year in wages, before even travel and other expenses for the member for Norwich North, who in a 6-month period didn’t participate in a single debate or submit any written questions. Still, who needs nurses?[/perfectpullquote]

It’s not an isolated case either.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Imagine this for a gig. You get paid £79,468 a year for doing no discernible work, occasionally get to wear some funky-looking suits, prance around one of the world’s most iconic buildings, and even have subsidised meals thrown into the bargain. This is lifestyle that Laura Pidcock, a Member of Parliament , might recognise, according to a Guardian investigation. You, as a taxpayer, forked out the equivalent of three nurses’ salary annualised last year in wages, before even travel and other expenses for the member for North West Durham, who in a 6-month period didn’t participate in a single debate or submit any written questions. Still, who needs nurses?[/perfectpullquote]

Quite right, an absolute terror. Yes, they do get paid:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Maternity and paternity leave
Members, as office holders, do not qualify for maternity or paternity
leave. They continue to receive their parliamentary salary unless they
are suspended from the service of the House[/perfectpullquote]

You even get paid if you’re in jail – for a sentence of less than a year and a day at least.

So, remarkably, Owen is quite right here, it’s an outrage, our money is being wasted upon people doing no discernible work for us but that’s the establishment for you, right? The privileged sucking on the teats of our wallets, get rid of this system immediately.

We’ll have to be careful though, there are parts of the system which are entirely justified:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Imagine this for a gig. You get paid £50,000 for doing no discernible work, occasionally get to wear some funky-looking scarlet and ermine robes, prance around one of the world’s most iconic buildings, and even have subsidised meals thrown into the bargain. This is lifestyle that David Brookman, a Labour peer in the House of Lords, might recognise, according to a Guardian investigation. You, as a taxpayer, forked out the equivalent of two nurses’ salary last year in attendance and travel expenses for Baron Brookman of Ebbw Vale, who in a 12-month period didn’t participate in a single debate or submit any written questions. Still, who needs nurses?[/perfectpullquote]

Nowt wrong with that, is there? For as we know, Teh Rulz is different for men and women. Because reasons.