politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » Marf on MPs with 2 jobs
Comments
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Are some Labour MPs so annoyed at other MPs earning lots of money because they are incapable of earning such high wages? It would explain a lot... ;-)
It seems there are two things they are pretending to be worried about: undue influence and earnings (the 'it should be a full time job' line).
If 'undue influence', then would that also apply if the wife held a directorship with a company? Or a child? And why would union-sponsored MPs not be covered under this?
If earnings, then why should it bother others as long as the MP also represent their constituents? After all, it is easily possible not to represent your constituents (ref Stuart Bell RIP) and still be an MP.
Let it all be open, and let the constituents decide if the MP is working hard enough for them.
We need better people in parliament, and such restrictions will only get more Eds and Daves.0 -
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
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MPs reject Labour's call for a ban on second jobs
REAKING NEWS:Labour bid to ban MPs holding paid directorships or consultancies defeated in Commons by a government majority of 68
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-316246950 -
SeanT said:
Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
I very rarely blow my own trombone
Classic!!!!!! LOL
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Photo op in Soho for Ed Miliband...rottenborough said:Apparently someone is setting up an owl-themed bar, with real owls. Is this something to do with Ed Miliband?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/11434508/Owl-themed-cocktail-bar-in-London-sparks-concerns-over-birds-welfare-as-thousands-sign-petition.html
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Josias - of course - is right.
If people don't like their local MP moonlighting as a taxi driver, a novelist, or a lawyer, they can always vote for someone else.0 -
£5 to join SLABmalcolmg said:
Bit economical there Mike, minimum is £1 per month , perhaps you were thinking of Scottish Labour offer recently.MikeSmithson said:
You can join the SNP for precisely £1JohnLilburne said:
Shit, that probably means invasion is out of the question.antifrank said:Neat twitter fact (I have no idea whether it's true, but what the hell):
James Chapman (Mail) @jameschappers · 1m1 minute ago
1/50 adult Scots has joined SNP since referendum. Party has more members than British army has soldiers. @alexmassie in @spectator #GE2015
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Absolutely, as I mentioned last time someone suggested I stand for Parliament, apart from my dislike of politicians as a breed and some dubious bits of my past that I would rather were not in the public eye, I simply couldn't afford to be an MP.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.0 -
Perhaps if it wasn't so unacceptable within the Labour Party to have 2nd jobs (and Labour did not encourage a culture of bullying and intimidation) then perhaps not so many of their MPs would have ended up in jail for fiddling their expenses?0
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https://twitter.com/GOsborneGenius/with_repliesSquareRoot said:
Link?FrancisUrquhart said:Poor Tim is losing his mind on twitter over Osborne's announcement. Politicos are getting all sorts of tweets fired at them.
A sharp corrective to nostalgia.0 -
Are you expecting Hollywood to come knocking?SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.
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Yeah, but think of the free paperclips.Richard_Tyndall said:
Absolutely, as I mentioned last time someone suggested I stand for Parliament, apart from my dislike of politicians as a breed and some dubious bits of my past that I would rather were not in the public eye, I simply couldn't afford to be an MP.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.0 -
The Prime Minister manages to squeese in his constituency duties, while running the country. Cant be too hard.JosiasJessop said:Are some Labour MPs so annoyed at other MPs earning lots of money because they are incapable of earning such high wages? It would explain a lot... ;-)
It seems there are two things they are pretending to be worried about: undue influence and earnings (the 'it should be a full time job' line).
If 'undue influence', then would that also apply if the wife held a directorship with a company? Or a child? And why would union-sponsored MPs not be covered under this?
If earnings, then why should it bother others as long as the MP also represent their constituents? After all, it is easily possible not to represent your constituents (ref Stuart Bell RIP) and still be an MP.
Let it all be open, and let the constituents decide if the MP is working hard enough for them.
We need better people in parliament, and such restrictions will only get more Eds and Daves.
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Oh dear, I was very impressed until I got to that bit.SeanT said:The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.
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Which one? (My film producer wife just asked - having ordered it from Amazon today....)SeanT said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.GIN1138 said:
Are you expecting Hollywood to come knocking?SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.0 -
Congratulations, SeanT.
I should get your book. From the descriptions, it sounds as though it would form a striking counterpoint to Christopher Priest's "The Prestige" and "The Affirmation", both of which I have read recently.0 -
Maybe you should play hard to get and wait for a frenzied multimillion dollar bidding war to break out.SeanT said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.GIN1138 said:
Are you expecting Hollywood to come knocking?SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.0 -
Not to mention a diamond-crusted pension when you retire.... no need to ever work again if you get a few terms under your belt in say the 50-60 years of age.rcs1000 said:
Yeah, but think of the free paperclips.Richard_Tyndall said:
Absolutely, as I mentioned last time someone suggested I stand for Parliament, apart from my dislike of politicians as a breed and some dubious bits of my past that I would rather were not in the public eye, I simply couldn't afford to be an MP.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
Personally I think the pension crisis could be partly addressed by limiting MPs to no more than 10 years in Parliament so that the cushy, squalid, repulsive putrid self-indulgence was at least more spread around a bit!!!
Think how much pension the father of the house or indeed Skinner have banked. Perhaps NPxMP could advise what his revalued pension income for life is for the time he banked just to illustrate that?0 -
Eh?malcolmg said:
minceMortimer said:
What rot.Dair said:
Yet it is nonsense.Mortimer said:FPT
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Dair said:
» show previous quotes
You do not know 300 people's inclination to be an MP or 300 people's salary levels.
Seriously, who do you think you will kid with this nonsense?
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It is amazing what you emerges over a period of time in normal society if you:
A) care about people and are able to talk to them and maintain friendships
...no, just A)
There are plenty of studies which show the average peer group is less than 12 people. The idea anyone on earth has a peer group of 300 is completely ridiculous.
I've worked on projects where I would daily talk, eat, have coffees, meet with at least 50 people of my age group, socio economic background and similar skill set.
I studied at a college where I would on a daily basis work, eat, chat, have a beer with 100 or more people within 3 years of me.
Facebook started in the UK about 6 months before I went to Oxford, and I'm therefore still decently in touch with just about anyone I ever had a meaningful conversation with whilst there. Add in linkedin and I have a decent idea of what they're earning...
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Scotlandish for "I beg to differ".Mortimer said:
Eh?malcolmg said:
minceMortimer said:
What rot.Dair said:
Yet it is nonsense.Mortimer said:FPT
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Dair said:
» show previous quotes
You do not know 300 people's inclination to be an MP or 300 people's salary levels.
Seriously, who do you think you will kid with this nonsense?
-
It is amazing what you emerges over a period of time in normal society if you:
A) care about people and are able to talk to them and maintain friendships...no, just A)
There are plenty of studies which show the average peer group is less than 12 people. The idea anyone on earth has a peer group of 300 is completely ridiculous.
I've worked on projects where I would daily talk, eat, have coffees, meet with at least 50 people of my age group, socio economic background and similar skill set.
I studied at a college where I would on a daily basis work, eat, chat, have a beer with 100 or more people within 3 years of me.
Facebook started in the UK about 6 months before I went to Oxford, and I'm therefore still decently in touch with just about anyone I ever had a meaningful conversation with whilst there. Add in linkedin and I have a decent idea of what they're earning...0 -
How odd. A Scottish PPB for the SNP on Channel 4.0
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Well said Robertrcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
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Spot on. If I had only 10 seconds in power I'd put all politicians on money purchase pensions and see how it changes their world view.Scrapheap_as_was said:
Not to mention a diamond-crusted pension when you retire.... no need to ever work again if you get a few terms under your belt in say the 50-60 years of age.rcs1000 said:
Yeah, but think of the free paperclips.Richard_Tyndall said:
Absolutely, as I mentioned last time someone suggested I stand for Parliament, apart from my dislike of politicians as a breed and some dubious bits of my past that I would rather were not in the public eye, I simply couldn't afford to be an MP.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
Personally I think the pension crisis could be partly addressed by limiting MPs to no more than 10 years in Parliament so that the cushy, squalid, repulsive self-indulgence was at least more spread around a bit!!!
Think how much pension the father of the house or indeed Skinner have banked. Perhaps NPxMP could advise what his revalued pension income for life is for the time he banked just to illustrate that?0 -
Well done anyway. And about bloody time!SeanT said:
Can't say until it's signed. Bad juju. Also probably bad form.MarqueeMark said:
Which one? (My film producer wife just asked - having ordered it from Amazon today....)SeanT said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.GIN1138 said:
Are you expecting Hollywood to come knocking?SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.
But ta to yr wife!
I have one of my projects going up on imdb tomorrow. Which is nice. A bit gutted for another to go all the way to Spielberg's number 2 at Dreamworks with a glowing report from underlings there (this will make big money, it's a franchise...blah de blah) only for the number 2 to say she wanted to take the company in a different direction. Arse.
I'm still wondering how much of a contortionist you have to be to blow your own trombone...?0 -
Make sure you max out your pension contributions then before the politicians get rid of your higher rate tax relief or cap you to buttons! [or at least take advice on whether to!!]SeanT said:
Can't say until it's signed. Bad juju. Also probably bad form.MarqueeMark said:
Which one? (My film producer wife just asked - having ordered it from Amazon today....)SeanT said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.GIN1138 said:
Are you expecting Hollywood to come knocking?SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.
But ta to yr wife!0 -
I'm guessing that's a first....SeanT said:
To hell with the bush. As it were.MonikerDiCanio said:
Maybe you should play hard to get and wait for a frenzied multimillion dollar bidding war to break out.SeanT said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.GIN1138 said:
Are you expecting Hollywood to come knocking?SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.
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I think the reds might take more interest in the stockmarket for a start!!!welshowl said:
Spot on. If I had only 10 seconds in power I'd put all politicians on money purchase pensions and see how it changes their world view.Scrapheap_as_was said:
Not to mention a diamond-crusted pension when you retire.... no need to ever work again if you get a few terms under your belt in say the 50-60 years of age.rcs1000 said:
Yeah, but think of the free paperclips.Richard_Tyndall said:
Absolutely, as I mentioned last time someone suggested I stand for Parliament, apart from my dislike of politicians as a breed and some dubious bits of my past that I would rather were not in the public eye, I simply couldn't afford to be an MP.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
Personally I think the pension crisis could be partly addressed by limiting MPs to no more than 10 years in Parliament so that the cushy, squalid, repulsive self-indulgence was at least more spread around a bit!!!
Think how much pension the father of the house or indeed Skinner have banked. Perhaps NPxMP could advise what his revalued pension income for life is for the time he banked just to illustrate that?
After the Telegraph expenses, I've always wondered why we didn't see tables showing the value of the biggest pension pots the taxpayers was going to be paying to all the MPs. It's no different in that there's a seemingly unwritten agreement to keep these benefits out of the limelight as there was with expenses to top up the 'low' salary.0 -
The Dutch can't tell the difference between Julian Barnes Ian McEwan and JK Rowling?
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I still think we'd all prefer it if you could write under the pen name Gaylord Poncyboots.SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.0 -
It's the perfect storm for a brain driven mad by tax exile and sunstroke.FrancisUrquhart said:Poor Tim is losing his mind on twitter over Osborne's announcement. Politicos are getting all sorts of tweets fired at them.
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Come on Berbie!0
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Well anything that exposes those with power to the consequences of their actions. Why give a stuff about QE or exchange rates or annuity rates that affect tens of millions of us if you're blissfully immune in your pension ivory tower. I mean how many MP's know that a £20k index linked pension with 50% same age spouse cover is about £650k to buy right now via an annuity? I'd love to know.Scrapheap_as_was said:
I think the reds might take more interest in the stockmarket for a start!!!welshowl said:
Spot on. If I had only 10 seconds in power I'd put all politicians on money purchase pensions and see how it changes their world view.Scrapheap_as_was said:
Not to mention a diamond-crusted pension when you retire.... no need to ever work again if you get a few terms under your belt in say the 50-60 years of age.rcs1000 said:
Yeah, but think of the free paperclips.Richard_Tyndall said:
Absolutely, as I mentioned last time someone suggested I stand for Parliament, apart from my dislike of politicians as a breed and some dubious bits of my past that I would rather were not in the public eye, I simply couldn't afford to be an MP.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
Personally I think the pension crisis could be partly addressed by limiting MPs to no more than 10 years in Parliament so that the cushy, squalid, repulsive self-indulgence was at least more spread around a bit!!!
Think how much pension the father of the house or indeed Skinner have banked. Perhaps NPxMP could advise what his revalued pension income for life is for the time he banked just to illustrate that?0 -
SeanT said:
Just the company that developed it wanting to er, blow their own trombone about their projects. They read 125 scripts, took just 2, mine being one. Now fully developed and ready to roll. I'll stick a link up when I get it.MarqueeMark said:
Quite. Hollywood is ridiculous. You can get a thousand green lights from the CEO down and then, just as they are readying the cameras, they pull the plug.SeanT said:
Well done anyway. And about bloody time!MarqueeMark said:
Can't say until it's signed. Bad juju. Also probably bad form.SeanT said:
Which one? (My film producer wife just asked - having ordered it from Amazon today....)GIN1138 said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I
But ta to yr wife!
I
That's another reason we took this offer from this particular company. They are self financing: they have a biilionaire backer and if they want to make a movie, they can do it, they just need to decide - then hire the director, actors, etc.
But they have a watertight relationship with Warner which guarantees that Warner have to distribute etc.
Out of interest what's yr movie coming out tomorrow? Is that what you mean by going up on IMDB?
It is an ensemble piece. A classic old-school British comedy drama. But I won't say anything more yet..0 -
Me neither. If I took a career break from medicine I would struggle to get anywhere near the same job afterwards.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
Though I am not sure that doing a few Locums during recess would be anywhere as lucrative as supping with big pharma.
The problem is not some MP keeping a hand in at farming, mining or doctoring. They earn money by peddling influence and contacts. Its not what they earn that is a problem, it is what they sell.0 -
oops.Scrapheap_as_was said:Come on Berbie!
0 -
I would just like to thank the EU for increasing the annual cost of me playing golf. It is one of the few sports I enjoy and now I will be forced into paying even more due to them forcing those who use buggies to have insurance. It is expensive enough as it is without them interfering.0
-
http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national0
-
It's not true. Since the Referendum only 70,000 Scots have joined the SNP (or slightly more but not 75k yet) as 25,000 were already members.antifrank said:Neat twitter fact (I have no idea whether it's true, but what the hell):
James Chapman (Mail) @jameschappers · 1m1 minute ago
1/50 adult Scots has joined SNP since referendum. Party has more members than British army has soldiers. @alexmassie in @spectator #GE2015
So it's about 1/60. The total membership is about 1/55 now.
Of course it also means about 1500 members for every single constituency in Scotland. Now that is significant.
0 -
Looks like Plod is being really super-efficient to ensure that the Sir Cliff historical claims gets fully investigated. Heaven forbid anyone should suggest this is because their reputation is on the block.
If only they showed such dedication to industrial scale rape occurring on a rather more recent time-line....0 -
SeanT said:
Billionaire and sidekick? Good luck - they're seriously tough operators.MarqueeMark said:
Quite. Hollywood is ridiculous. You can get a thousand green lights from the CEO down and then, just as they are readying the cameras, they pull the plug.SeanT said:
Well done anyway. And about bloody time!MarqueeMark said:
Can't say until it's signed. Bad juju. Also probably bad form.SeanT said:
Which one? (My film producer wife just asked - having ordered it from Amazon today....)GIN1138 said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I
But ta to yr wife!
I have one of my projects going up on imdb tomorrow. Which is nice. A bit gutted for another to go all the way to Spielberg's number 2 at Dreamworks with a glowing report from underlings there (this will make big money, it's a franchise...blah de blah) only for the number 2 to say she wanted to take the company in a different direction. Arse.
I'm still wondering how much of a contortionist you have to be to blow your own trombone...?
That's another reason we took this offer from this particular company. They are self financing: they have a biilionaire backer and if they want to make a movie, they can do it, they just need to decide - then hire the director, actors, etc.
But they have a watertight relationship with Warner which guarantees that Warner have to distribute etc.
Out of interest what's yr movie coming out tomorrow? Is that what you mean by going up on IMDB?0 -
Historically Scots have been about 20% of the British Army, so you really only have 54k. Maybe you could take over Chelmsford.JohnLilburne said:
Shit, that probably means invasion is out of the question.antifrank said:Neat twitter fact (I have no idea whether it's true, but what the hell):
James Chapman (Mail) @jameschappers · 1m1 minute ago
1/50 adult Scots has joined SNP since referendum. Party has more members than British army has soldiers. @alexmassie in @spectator #GE20150 -
The reviews on Goodreads look very positive. I should get it.SeanT said:
Ta. You might enjoy it. Some people love it, almost embarrassingly so. Others don't, clearly.antifrank said:Congratulations, SeanT.
I should get your book. From the descriptions, it sounds as though it would form a striking counterpoint to Christopher Priest's "The Prestige" and "The Affirmation", both of which I have read recently.
I think this girl liked it, on Twitter - she just finished it:
@CasIsMyAngel_ 2h2 hours ago
Just finished reading #TheIceTwins...I'm actually crying silently. The ending was so beautifully chilling - amazing. Ugh my heart hurts.
I'll stop now. Maybe.
Does it have anything like the Swedish boiling scene in it?
0 -
SeanT said:
It could have been worse. They could have brought on another team of writers to add much more comedy into King Lear.....MarqueeMark said:
Yes, always best to be super-cautious, for reasons we both know.SeanT said:
Just the company that developed it wanting to er, blow their own trombone about their projects. They read 125 scripts, took just 2, mine being one. Now fully developed and ready to roll. I'll stick a link up when I get it.MarqueeMark said:SeanT said:
Well done anyway. And about bloody time!MarqueeMark said:
Can't say until it's signed. Bad juju. Also probably bad form.SeanT said:
Which one? (My film producer wife just asked - having ordered it from Amazon today....)GIN1138 said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I
But ta to yr wife!
I
Out of interest what's yr movie coming out tomorrow? Is that what you mean by going up on IMDB?
It is an ensemble piece. A classic old-school British comedy drama. But I won't say anything more yet..
I remember spending a very drunken evening with the genius writer-director of Withnail and I, Bruce Robinson. I was about 23, and with a friend, and we turned up on Robinson's doorstep in Wimbledon - unheralded - to say how much we adored his movie - and he very generously found it amusing, and took us out for a curry and got us totally pissed. Classic evening.
But something he said chilled me, which was that he'd written ten scripts for Hollywood that were commissioned but never made. Ten. Or more.
It's like Shakespeare writing ten plays from Romeo and Juliet to King Lear and none of them ever appearing in the theatre.
Hollywood devours talent, and regurgitates about a tenth of it, in movie form.0 -
Naughty.TheWatcher said:
It's the perfect storm for a brain driven mad by tax exile and sunstroke.FrancisUrquhart said:Poor Tim is losing his mind on twitter over Osborne's announcement. Politicos are getting all sorts of tweets fired at them.
0 -
That was Labour in January, now £5.MikeSmithson said:
You can join the SNP for precisely £1JohnLilburne said:
Shit, that probably means invasion is out of the question.antifrank said:Neat twitter fact (I have no idea whether it's true, but what the hell):
James Chapman (Mail) @jameschappers · 1m1 minute ago
1/50 adult Scots has joined SNP since referendum. Party has more members than British army has soldiers. @alexmassie in @spectator #GE2015
Minimum cost of SNP membership is £12.0 -
Dan Hodges @DPJHodges 16m16 minutes ago Lewisham, London
Just had to ask Mrs H who Ed Sheeran is. I'm not even middle-aged any more...
Dan loves Ed
EICIPM (Ed isnt crap is perfect musician?)0 -
"Me neither. If I took a career break from medicine I would struggle to get anywhere near the same job afterwards."foxinsoxuk said:
Me neither. If I took a career break from medicine I would struggle to get anywhere near the same job afterwards.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
Though I am not sure that doing a few Locums during recess would be anywhere as lucrative as supping with big pharma.
The problem is not some MP keeping a hand in at farming, mining or doctoring. They earn money by peddling influence and contacts. Its not what they earn that is a problem, it is what they sell.
Why chase the money? Take a career break, enjoy yourself, let your family (if you have one) enjoy yourselves, and see where life takes you. You are, by all accounts intelligent (you are a doctor), and both interested and interesting (you post on PB) - you could do lots of things.
It's the way I've led my life (both through choice and accident), and although I'll never be rich, I'm comfortable and happy.
As an uncle once said to a gf of mine: "Money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does buy a better form of miserable."0 -
They think turnips are small tasteless white things not tasty yellow things. As they say, the English consider food what the Scots would only feed to horses.malcolmg said:
LOL, tatties and turnipEastwinger said:
With or without Turnips?malcolmg said:
minceMortimer said:
What rot.Dair said:
Yet it is nonsense.Mortimer said:FPT
-
Dair said:
» show previous quotes
You do not know 300 people's inclination to be an MP or 300 people's salary levels.
Seriously, who do you think you will kid with this nonsense?
-
It is amazing what you emerges over a period of time in normal society if you:
A) care about people and are able to talk to them and maintain friendships...no, just A)
There are plenty of studies which show the average peer group is less than 12 people. The idea anyone on earth has a peer group of 300 is completely ridiculous.
I've worked on projects where I would daily talk, eat, have coffees, meet with at least 50 people of my age group, socio economic background and similar skill set.
I studied at a college where I would on a daily basis work, eat, chat, have a beer with 100 or more people within 3 years of me.
Facebook started in the UK about 6 months before I went to Oxford, and I'm therefore still decently in touch with just about anyone I ever had a meaningful conversation with whilst there. Add in linkedin and I have a decent idea of what they're earning...0 -
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
0 -
???FrancisUrquhart said:
Naughty.TheWatcher said:
It's the perfect storm for a brain driven mad by tax exile and sunstroke.FrancisUrquhart said:Poor Tim is losing his mind on twitter over Osborne's announcement. Politicos are getting all sorts of tweets fired at them.
0 -
Who would you vote for? The NHA Party?bigjohnowls said:
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
0 -
No, other way round.Dair said:
They think turnips are small tasteless white things not tasty yellow things. As they say, the English consider food what the Scots would only feed to horses.malcolmg said:
LOL, tatties and turnipEastwinger said:
With or without Turnips?malcolmg said:
minceMortimer said:
What rot.Dair said:
Yet it is nonsense.Mortimer said:FPT
-
Dair said:
» show previous quotes
You do not know 300 people's inclination to be an MP or 300 people's salary levels.
Seriously, who do you think you will kid with this nonsense?
-
It is amazing what you emerges over a period of time in normal society if you:
A) care about people and are able to talk to them and maintain friendships...no, just A)
There are plenty of studies which show the average peer group is less than 12 people. The idea anyone on earth has a peer group of 300 is completely ridiculous.
'Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.' Sam Johnson, Dictionary
You are wrong quite a lot, aren't you?0 -
Yes if they were standingFrancisUrquhart said:
Who would you vote for? The NHA Party?bigjohnowls said:
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
0 -
The FT reckon that George Osborne may have money to give away in the budget:
http://on.ft.com/1A6Pqpf0 -
Not UKIP and their insurance based solution?bigjohnowls said:
Yes if they were standingFrancisUrquhart said:
Who would you vote for? The NHA Party?bigjohnowls said:
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
0 -
If my writing has shown me anything, it is that I have a great criminal mind. I have devised an original heist-within-a-heist that readers think really works.
If only I had started earlier in life down this road, I could by now have my own volcano island base with invisible helicopters and a Maglev train and everything. Henchmen too. I've always wanted henchmen.
I blame the careers service at school for not developing my skills....0 -
Marquee
"Hollywood devours talent, and regurgitates about a tenth of it, in movie form"
My next door neighbour makes a film about once every two years. Writes (usually) and directs. They never make money but she gets together an A list cast-Robert De Niro Kathy Bates Geraldine Chaplin Harvey Keitel etc- and they come along as regular as clockwork.
Though a very good friend the one question I don't ask is how she gets so much backing when she keeps making lemons. Other friends can't get their scripts made for love nor money. It's a trick but I don't know what it is.0 -
Mr Scrap methinks you jestScrapheap_as_was said:
Not UKIP and their insurance based solution?bigjohnowls said:
Yes if they were standingFrancisUrquhart said:
Who would you vote for? The NHA Party?bigjohnowls said:
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
0 -
GO BERBIE!!! #coyexs0
-
Hollywood devours a pavlova on my TVRoger said:Marquee
"Hollywood devours talent, and regurgitates about a tenth of it, in movie form"
My next door neighbour makes a film about once every two years. Writes (usually) and directs. They never make money but she gets together an A list cast-Robert De Niro Kathy Bates Geraldine Chaplin Harvey Keitel etc- and they come along as regular as clockwork.
Though a very good friend the one question I don't ask is how she gets so much backing when she keeps making lemons. Other friends can't get their scripts made for love nor money. It's a trick but I don't know what it is.0 -
Methinks you are right.bigjohnowls said:
Mr Scrap methinks you jestScrapheap_as_was said:
Not UKIP and their insurance based solution?bigjohnowls said:
Yes if they were standingFrancisUrquhart said:
Who would you vote for? The NHA Party?bigjohnowls said:
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
0 -
Is it time to mention that Spurs have reached more CL quarter finals or beyond than Arsenal have in the last 5 years?0
-
But did you keep the merchandising rights?SeanT said:
That was the alternative, if the book goes gangbusters in America then we could have an auction and I'd make millions.MonikerDiCanio said:
Maybe you should play hard to get and wait for a frenzied multimillion dollar bidding war to break out.SeanT said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.GIN1138 said:
Are you expecting Hollywood to come knocking?SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.
However this was a good offer with a very generous purchase price, from a company that buy few books, but does actually make the ones it buys. And I want to see this movie made.
Also I figured if the book goes mad in America I'll make loads anyway, and this company will be able to attract real talent to the movie, which will be watched by all the readers and more, generating more sales.
Whereas if the book tanks in America, and we'd turned this deal down, I'd have no movie deal at all.
it was a fine call, but I went for the bird in the hand. To hell with the bush. As it were.0 -
WOW! Congrats.SeanT said:
They've knocked. We're about to sign a deal this week (inshallah). A subsidiary of Warner Bros.GIN1138 said:
Are you expecting Hollywood to come knocking?SeanT said:
Thankyou.JosiasJessop said:
Smug away.SeanT said:Am I allowed a little smugness? It's very rare for my to blow my own trombone, but perhaps you will forgive me this one time?
THE ICE TWINS, written by my creepily identical twin sister, has just come out in Dutch translation.
As of this moment it stands at number 5 in the iTunes Dutch book charts, and ALSO at number 1.
Number 5 is the English version, number 1 is the Dutch version.
http://www.appannie.com/books/ibooks-store/top/netherlands/overall/
I was also Googling my Dutch translation last night, and discovered that the influential Dutch TV panel show, DWDD (broadcast on the Dutch equivalent of BBC1 - i.e. the most popular channel) chose it as one of their "four books of the month" (they have a regular feature when they get booksellers and publishers on the show to select four hot titles).
http://www.tzum.info/2015/02/nieuws-dwdd-boekenpanel-kiest-stadium-iv-van-sander-kollaard-als-beste-boek-van-februari/
It's very nice that they chose ICE TWINS, of course, and that they all think it gripping and twisty. But the most amusing/gratifying bit is about 5 minutes into the show when they speculate as to who is the mysterious and pseudonymous author of De Ijstweeling. The consensus is that it is Julian Barnes or J K Rowling. Or maybe Ian McEwan.
0 -
Film financing is a very black art...Roger said:Marquee
"Hollywood devours talent, and regurgitates about a tenth of it, in movie form"
My next door neighbour makes a film about once every two years. Writes (usually) and directs. They never make money but she gets together an A list cast-Robert De Niro Kathy Bates Geraldine Chaplin Harvey Keitel etc- and they come along as regular as clockwork.
Though a very good friend the one question I don't ask is how she gets so much backing when she keeps making lemons. Other friends can't get their scripts made for love nor money. It's a trick but I don't know what it is.
0 -
I think we could persuade Mr Owls to vote for our Fiscally Dry But Not Obsessed With Europe or The Gays New Tory PartyScrapheap_as_was said:
Methinks you are right.bigjohnowls said:
Mr Scrap methinks you jestScrapheap_as_was said:
Not UKIP and their insurance based solution?bigjohnowls said:
Yes if they were standingFrancisUrquhart said:
Who would you vote for? The NHA Party?bigjohnowls said:
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
0 -
Is Oliver Giroud the new Bobby Sol?0
-
While I am certainly well paid, between my NHS salary and my modest private practice. I actually love my job and it is great to be a Consultant in my Hospital. I get to teach enthusiastic and Idealistic youngsters, shape vital services locally, I have both scientific and human interest in my patients, many of whom I have built friendships with and I have interesting and varied colleagues who are both supportive and challenging. I get plenty of office politics too.JosiasJessop said:
"Me neither. If I took a career break from medicine I would struggle to get anywhere near the same job afterwards."foxinsoxuk said:
Me neither. If I took a career break from medicine I would struggle to get anywhere near the same job afterwards.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
Though I am not sure that doing a few Locums during recess would be anywhere as lucrative as supping with big pharma.
The problem is not some MP keeping a hand in at farming, mining or doctoring. They earn money by peddling influence and contacts. Its not what they earn that is a problem, it is what they sell.
Why chase the money? Take a career break, enjoy yourself, let your family (if you have one) enjoy yourselves, and see where life takes you. You are, by all accounts intelligent (you are a doctor), and both interested and interesting (you post on PB) - you could do lots of things.
It's the way I've led my life (both through choice and accident), and although I'll never be rich, I'm comfortable and happy.
As an uncle once said to a gf of mine: "Money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does buy a better form of miserable."
Why would I want to be an MP instead? Particularly as an LD it would be a short career!0 -
Or FDBNOWEOTGNTP, for short.TheScreamingEagles said:
I think we could persuade Mr Owls to vote for our Fiscally Dry But Not Obsessed With Europe or The Gays New Tory PartyScrapheap_as_was said:
Methinks you are right.bigjohnowls said:
Mr Scrap methinks you jestScrapheap_as_was said:
Not UKIP and their insurance based solution?bigjohnowls said:
Yes if they were standingFrancisUrquhart said:
Who would you vote for? The NHA Party?bigjohnowls said:
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
0 -
While the Dow generally bounces back from the most severe setback within a year, the FTSE has only just reached DotCom levels (i.e. 2000). Meanwhile the pensions "industry" ponzi scheme continues to have the highest fixed annual charges in the world.Scrapheap_as_was said:
I think the reds might take more interest in the stockmarket for a start!!!welshowl said:
Spot on. If I had only 10 seconds in power I'd put all politicians on money purchase pensions and see how it changes their world view.
After the Telegraph expenses, I've always wondered why we didn't see tables showing the value of the biggest pension pots the taxpayers was going to be paying to all the MPs. It's no different in that there's a seemingly unwritten agreement to keep these benefits out of the limelight as there was with expenses to top up the 'low' salary.
All at the behest of parliament whose politicians are isolated from such effects and who can look forward to lucrative board positions with the pension companies when they leave the commons.
Welshowl really hits the nail on the head. If politicians were on Defined Contribution schemes, the pension industry would change. If the public sector was on Defined Contribution there would be riots (and the police would be part of those rioting).0 -
Ah, Mr TSE, I've been expecting you. He's had a Postiga.
I fear Mr Owls may not like my negativity to Public Sector DB pensions... I realise it's too soon to say what will be in our manifesto however regarding that area.0 -
FPT - left by @Morris Dancer:-
"Austria bans foreign funding for imams and mosques:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31629543"
I suggested this shortly after the Charlie Hebdo murders. The idea that schools here should have funding from Saudi Arabia, a country which has just sentenced a man to death for renouncing Islam, is quite abhorrent to me. It is little surprise that so many Muslims here think that Islam is incompatible with Western liberal democracy if they are being taught that sort of malevolent rubbish.0 -
I think that was a joke.Ishmael_X said:
No, other way round.
'Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.' Sam Johnson, Dictionary
You are wrong quite a lot, aren't you?
There's probably not a Scot alive with a reading age above 12 who isn't aware of the good doctor's definition.0 -
That's meaningless. When you tell them it would cost about £800 per month from the age of 30 to 65 to get a pension of £20k on Defined Contribution then you see them start to understand how shocking UK pensions are.welshowl said:
Well anything that exposes those with power to the consequences of their actions. Why give a stuff about QE or exchange rates or annuity rates that affect tens of millions of us if you're blissfully immune in your pension ivory tower. I mean how many MP's know that a £20k index linked pension with 50% same age spouse cover is about £650k to buy right now via an annuity? I'd love to know.Scrapheap_as_was said:
I think the reds might take more interest in the stockmarket for a start!!!welshowl said:
Spot on. If I had only 10 seconds in power I'd put all politicians on money purchase pensions and see how it changes their world view.Scrapheap_as_was said:
Not to mention a diamond-crusted pension when you retire.... no need to ever work again if you get a few terms under your belt in say the 50-60 years of age.rcs1000 said:
Yeah, but think of the free paperclips.Richard_Tyndall said:
Absolutely, as I mentioned last time someone suggested I stand for Parliament, apart from my dislike of politicians as a breed and some dubious bits of my past that I would rather were not in the public eye, I simply couldn't afford to be an MP.rcs1000 said:
Yes: but charging paperclips doesn't pay the gas bill or for your bottle of Chateau Thames Embankment.malcolmg said:you forget the £175K averag eexpenses for your wife and family and paper clips etc. Rifkind charge for paper clips , 5p , 5p and 8p. They are extremely well rewarded and are unlikely to need to touch their salary given the generous unlimited expenses.
Take me or Richard Tyndall or any number of PBers. We have our own small businesses. Would the businesses survive our absence for 5 years?
So, if we were to decide to enter politics, and take a pay cut, we also have to factor in that our businesses probably won't be around on the far side of it. (Especially if 'outside interests' were severely proscribed.
Personally I think the pension crisis could be partly addressed by limiting MPs to no more than 10 years in Parliament so that the cushy, squalid, repulsive self-indulgence was at least more spread around a bit!!!
Think how much pension the father of the house or indeed Skinner have banked. Perhaps NPxMP could advise what his revalued pension income for life is for the time he banked just to illustrate that?0 -
Anecdote alert: My sister-in-law has just phoned my wife in a gloomy mood because she doesn't know who to vote for. She normally votes Labour, but was going to vote Green because she can't bring herself to vote for Ed Miliband. But since yesterday's debacle she can't vote Green. She's never voted Tory, and can't bring herself to do so, although she can't understand why people dislike them as much as they do, though she knows why she dislikes them. Unfortunately, I can't bring you any further insight as I've had to leave the room as the alternatives were either sitting mute while politics was discussed in a semi-informed manner or butting in repeatedly, which would have neither won friends nor changed minds.0
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We will fund the most generous pensions in the world by makingScrapheap_as_was said:Ah, Mr TSE, I've been expecting you. He's had a Postiga.
I fear Mr Owls may not like my negativity to Public Sector DB pensions... I realise it's too soon to say what will be in our manifesto however regarding that area.
1) All Commonwealth Nations pay us an annual tribute of 15% of their GDP
2) Any country that has ever been part of the empire has to pay us an annual tribute of 10% of their GDP
3) Any country we've ever been at war with, has to pay us an annual tribute of 25% of their GDP
4) France is excluded from 3) as we enforce the Treaty of Troyes and we take 100% of their GDP0 -
I wasn't just referring to being an MP, and I'm really glad you enjoy your job. but are you sure you wouldn't enjoy something else more?foxinsoxuk said:
While I am certainly well paid, between my NHS salary and my modest private practice. I actually love my job and it is great to be a Consultant in my Hospital. I get to teach enthusiastic and Idealistic youngsters, shape vital services locally, I have both scientific and human interest in my patients, many of whom I have built friendships with and I have interesting and varied colleagues who are both supportive and challenging. I get plenty of office politics too.JosiasJessop said:
"Me neither. If I took a career break from medicine I would struggle to get anywhere near the same job afterwards."
Why chase the money? Take a career break, enjoy yourself, let your family (if you have one) enjoy yourselves, and see where life takes you. You are, by all accounts intelligent (you are a doctor), and both interested and interesting (you post on PB) - you could do lots of things.
It's the way I've led my life (both through choice and accident), and although I'll never be rich, I'm comfortable and happy.
As an uncle once said to a gf of mine: "Money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does buy a better form of miserable."
Why would I want to be an MP instead? Particularly as an LD it would be a short career!
Too many people chase money IMHO, and too many people waste their lives in jealousy of those who are rich.
This came out in a conversation yesterday, when a few people seemed more concerned about their children's earning power than their health or happiness.0 -
I'm a 'long slow burn' in bed, says Ed Balls in excruciating LBC interview
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2969119/I-m-long-slow-burn-bed-says-Ed-Balls-excruciating-LBC-interview-Mumsnet-rates-Commons-best-lovers.html
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As dividends make up a much higher part of the FTSE 100 the better compator is total return rather than stock prices.Dair said:
While the Dow generally bounces back from the most severe setback within a year, the FTSE has only just reached DotCom levels (i.e. 2000). Meanwhile the pensions "industry" ponzi scheme continues to have the highest fixed annual charges in the world.Scrapheap_as_was said:
I think the reds might take more interest in the stockmarket for a start!!!welshowl said:
Spot on. If I had only 10 seconds in power I'd put all politicians on money purchase pensions and see how it changes their world view.
After the Telegraph expenses, I've always wondered why we didn't see tables showing the value of the biggest pension pots the taxpayers was going to be paying to all the MPs. It's no different in that there's a seemingly unwritten agreement to keep these benefits out of the limelight as there was with expenses to top up the 'low' salary.
All at the behest of parliament whose politicians are isolated from such effects and who can look forward to lucrative board positions with the pension companies when they leave the commons.
Welshowl really hits the nail on the head. If politicians were on Defined Contribution schemes, the pension industry would change. If the public sector was on Defined Contribution there would be riots (and the police would be part of those rioting).
0 -
Off-topic:
Have just learnt that the BBC have remade Poldark.
If they do as bad a job as they did with Jamaica Inn, there'll be violence.
(My favourite book is Winston Graham's 'Marnie', which Hitchcock made into an uncharacteristically hideous film. Hitchcock's dead. Just sayin'). ;-)0 -
The way Ed's hero is going in France, we can probably do without the funds from part 4.TheScreamingEagles said:
We will fund the most generous pensions in the world by makingScrapheap_as_was said:Ah, Mr TSE, I've been expecting you. He's had a Postiga.
I fear Mr Owls may not like my negativity to Public Sector DB pensions... I realise it's too soon to say what will be in our manifesto however regarding that area.
1) All Commonwealth Nations pay us an annual tribute of 15% of their GDP
2) Any country that has ever been part of the empire has to pay us an annual tribute of 10% of their GDP
3) Any country we've ever been at war with, has to pay us an annual tribute of 25% of their GDP
4) France is excluded from 3) as we enforce the Treaty of Troyes and we take 100% of their GDP
Actually we could lease them George O as their economics minister of state for £10bn a year. Cheap as chips that and a nice second job for HMG.0 -
MM
"Film financing is a very black art..."
A touch of luck helps.....after 911 Tony Blair quoted a line from Bridge Of St Luis Rey in New York which touched a nerve and reminded Americans of the little classic by Thornton Wilder which then became a best seller and who just happened to be touting the film script at that precise moment........
I think it's all to do with Catholicism!0 -
Are you perchance a betting man.TheScreamingEagles said:
I think we could persuade Mr Owls to vote for our Fiscally Dry But Not Obsessed With Europe or The Gays New Tory PartyScrapheap_as_was said:
Methinks you are right.bigjohnowls said:
Mr Scrap methinks you jestScrapheap_as_was said:
Not UKIP and their insurance based solution?bigjohnowls said:
Yes if they were standingFrancisUrquhart said:
Who would you vote for? The NHA Party?bigjohnowls said:
If that becomes Lab policy I would not vote LabourManchesterKurt said:http://www.lbc.co.uk/ed-balls-labour-would-roll-out-devolution-105501 following on from the earlier posts, balls says Labour would roll out the Manc nhs model national
I do not like the sound of this dryness I have to say
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That sounds reasonable, so long as you PROMISE to continue to ring-fence the foreign aid budget.TheScreamingEagles said:
We will fund the most generous pensions in the world by makingScrapheap_as_was said:Ah, Mr TSE, I've been expecting you. He's had a Postiga.
I fear Mr Owls may not like my negativity to Public Sector DB pensions... I realise it's too soon to say what will be in our manifesto however regarding that area.
1) All Commonwealth Nations pay us an annual tribute of 15% of their GDP
2) Any country that has ever been part of the empire has to pay us an annual tribute of 10% of their GDP
3) Any country we've ever been at war with, has to pay us an annual tribute of 25% of their GDP
4) France is excluded from 3) as we enforce the Treaty of Troyes and we take 100% of their GDP0 -
You could join SLab for £1 too. How's their membership number doing?MikeSmithson said:
You can join the SNP for precisely £1JohnLilburne said:
Shit, that probably means invasion is out of the question.antifrank said:Neat twitter fact (I have no idea whether it's true, but what the hell):
James Chapman (Mail) @jameschappers · 1m1 minute ago
1/50 adult Scots has joined SNP since referendum. Party has more members than British army has soldiers. @alexmassie in @spectator #GE20150 -
They had a £1 promo.Pulpstar said:
£5 to join SLABmalcolmg said:
Bit economical there Mike, minimum is £1 per month , perhaps you were thinking of Scottish Labour offer recently.MikeSmithson said:
You can join the SNP for precisely £1JohnLilburne said:
Shit, that probably means invasion is out of the question.antifrank said:Neat twitter fact (I have no idea whether it's true, but what the hell):
James Chapman (Mail) @jameschappers · 1m1 minute ago
1/50 adult Scots has joined SNP since referendum. Party has more members than British army has soldiers. @alexmassie in @spectator #GE20150 -
Rob D is a member of our party isn't he? I think he was signed up without even having to agree, we're that helpful to prospective members.0
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Neil has assured me that defined contribution pensions are too expensive for the public sector.Dair said:
While the Dow generally bounces back from the most severe setback within a year, the FTSE has only just reached DotCom levels (i.e. 2000). Meanwhile the pensions "industry" ponzi scheme continues to have the highest fixed annual charges in the world.Scrapheap_as_was said:
I think the reds might take more interest in the stockmarket for a start!!!welshowl said:
Spot on. If I had only 10 seconds in power I'd put all politicians on money purchase pensions and see how it changes their world view.
After the Telegraph expenses, I've always wondered why we didn't see tables showing the value of the biggest pension pots the taxpayers was going to be paying to all the MPs. It's no different in that there's a seemingly unwritten agreement to keep these benefits out of the limelight as there was with expenses to top up the 'low' salary.
All at the behest of parliament whose politicians are isolated from such effects and who can look forward to lucrative board positions with the pension companies when they leave the commons.
Welshowl really hits the nail on the head. If politicians were on Defined Contribution schemes, the pension industry would change. If the public sector was on Defined Contribution there would be riots (and the police would be part of those rioting).0 -
I was well aware of the reference. The fact remains, in England you eat white turnips whereas they are animal feed in most civilised nations.Ishmael_X said:
No, other way round.Dair said:
They think turnips are small tasteless white things not tasty yellow things. As they say, the English consider food what the Scots would only feed to horses.malcolmg said:
LOL, tatties and turnipEastwinger said:
With or without Turnips?malcolmg said:
minceMortimer said:
What rot.Dair said:
Yet it is nonsense.Mortimer said:FPT
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Dair said:
» show previous quotes
You do not know 300 people's inclination to be an MP or 300 people's salary levels.
Seriously, who do you think you will kid with this nonsense?
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It is amazing what you emerges over a period of time in normal society if you:
A) care about people and are able to talk to them and maintain friendships...no, just A)
There are plenty of studies which show the average peer group is less than 12 people. The idea anyone on earth has a peer group of 300 is completely ridiculous.
'Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.' Sam Johnson, Dictionary
You are wrong quite a lot, aren't you?0 -
Grim thought. Ed Balls doing a 'Mellor' in his Norwich City kit.FrancisUrquhart said:I'm a 'long slow burn' in bed, says Ed Balls in excruciating LBC interview
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2969119/I-m-long-slow-burn-bed-says-Ed-Balls-excruciating-LBC-interview-Mumsnet-rates-Commons-best-lovers.html0 -
OGICINBS or PMTheScreamingEagles said:Is Oliver Giroud the new Bobby Sol?
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He is, he liked the fact we weren't obsessed by Europe or the Gays, and our patrons would be Ken Clarke and Jacob Rees-Mogg.Scrapheap_as_was said:Rob D is a member of our party isn't he? I think he was signed up without even having to agree, we're that helpful to prospective members.
Two different people today have urged me to stand as the Directly Elected Mayor of Manchester.
That could be an awesome first victory for our party.0 -
TheScreamingEagles said:
He is, he liked the fact we weren't obsessed by Europe or the Gays, and our patrons would be Ken Clarke and Jacob Rees-Mogg.Scrapheap_as_was said:Rob D is a member of our party isn't he? I think he was signed up without even having to agree, we're that helpful to prospective members.
Two different people today have urged me to stand as the Directly Elected Mayor of Manchester.
That could be an awesome first victory for our party.
Two of my favourite Tories as you may know.
I could stand here against Bercow too and have a clear run against him, the kippers are few and far between of course as Farage so spectacularly proved?
Naturally in a similar way to Carswell/Farage, should I win and be our first MP then I wouldn't expect to be party leader.0 -
Marnie makes me think of Geordie Shore.JosiasJessop said:
(My favourite book is Winston Graham's 'Marnie', which Hitchcock made into an uncharacteristically hideous film. Hitchcock's dead. Just sayin'). ;-)
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The culture and knowledge of Scotland seems quite alien and unknown to the man on the Clapham Omnibus.Theuniondivvie said:
I think that was a joke.Ishmael_X said:
No, other way round.
'Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.' Sam Johnson, Dictionary
You are wrong quite a lot, aren't you?
There's probably not a Scot alive with a reading age above 12 who isn't aware of the good doctor's definition.
While we know about the Clapham Omnibus.0 -
You have been hanging out with drunken people again?TheScreamingEagles said:Scrapheap_as_was said:Rob D is a member of our party isn't he? I think he was signed up without even having to agree, we're that helpful to prospective members.
Two different people today have urged me to stand as the Directly Elected Mayor of Manchester.
TSE is DEMOM
Surely it should be Nantwich0 -
Who knows whether I would have enjoyed another job as much? I have just worked hard and taken opportunities as they have arisen. I have had career disappointments, but have always moved on to other opportunities without looking back.JosiasJessop said:
I wasn't just referring to being an MP, and I'm really glad you enjoy your job. but are you sure you wouldn't enjoy something else more?foxinsoxuk said:
While I am certainly well paid, between my NHS salary and my modest private practice. I actually love my job and it is great to be a Consultant in my Hospital. I get to teach enthusiastic and Idealistic youngsters, shape vital services locally, I have both scientific and human interest in my patients, many of whom I have built friendships with and I have interesting and varied colleagues who are both supportive and challenging. I get plenty of office politics too.JosiasJessop said:
"Me neither. If I took a career break from medicine I would struggle to get anywhere near the same job afterwards."
Why chase the money? Take a career break, enjoy yourself, let your family (if you have one) enjoy yourselves, and see where life takes you. You are, by all accounts intelligent (you are a doctor), and both interested and interesting (you post on PB) - you could do lots of things.
It's the way I've led my life (both through choice and accident), and although I'll never be rich, I'm comfortable and happy.
As an uncle once said to a gf of mine: "Money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does buy a better form of miserable."
Why would I want to be an MP instead? Particularly as an LD it would be a short career!
Too many people chase money IMHO, and too many people waste their lives in jealousy of those who are rich.
This came out in a conversation yesterday, when a few people seemed more concerned about their children's earning power than their health or happiness.
It may be my Scots/Ulster Presbyterianism showing but as far as I can see pretty much all job satisfaction comes from what you put in, not what you get out. Youngsters with a "Can't be Arsed" attitude will neither be happy or well paid.
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If you want to know more, can I suggest you spend a few hours on Clapham Common.Dair said:
The culture and knowledge of Scotland seems quite alien and unknown to the man on the Clapham Omnibus.Theuniondivvie said:
I think that was a joke.Ishmael_X said:
No, other way round.
'Oats. A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland supports the people.' Sam Johnson, Dictionary
You are wrong quite a lot, aren't you?
There's probably not a Scot alive with a reading age above 12 who isn't aware of the good doctor's definition.
While we know about the Clapham Omnibus.
*Innocent Face*0 -
I've never watched Geordie Shore: I'm guessing I've not missed much. What's the connection?Hertsmere_Pubgoer said:
Marnie makes me think of Geordie Shore.JosiasJessop said:
(My favourite book is Winston Graham's 'Marnie', which Hitchcock made into an uncharacteristically hideous film. Hitchcock's dead. Just sayin'). ;-)0
