I wrote about The “Parliamentary Pay Pantomime” just after New Year on the Wardman Wire. I raised some questions, and - following Dave Cole - suggested a linkage with national average incomes between elections, with reviews at Election Time.

Since then, we have seen more questions raised, in the Conway affair, and now a list of other cases (courtesy of Guido). Some of them are quite eyebrow-raising.

Everyone agrees that we need more transparency - but how?

Time to Do Some Thinking

This week we are trying to think through some new ideas, so I’ve organised an “online symposium”. There will be an article published each day by a different guest poster - from different viewpoints.

This is the brief I circulated:

“I wondered if you would be interested in penning an article for the WW this week about the Parliamentary MPs expenses etc. setup and how it should be revised.

I thought it would be good to do a series from different viewpoints.”

At present we have four participants in the symposium.

Me (Matt Wardman) - from the Centre Right.

I will be arguing for a narrowing of Parliamentary privilege over financial matters, so that I’d like to see the arrangents for politicians be as close as possible to those experienced by the normal population. I see that as a way to bring more sanity into some aspects of the ordinary system, as well as making our politicians more transparent as a route to restored confidence.

Dave Cole of davecole.org - who is left-leaning

Dave did some interesting analysis in early January. He will be revisiting the subject.

“That sounds like fun.”

Gavin Whenman from Gavin’s Gaily Gigest

Gavin is a Lib Dem - and will imminently gain the nickcame “Lord Charles” if he is not careful - will be arguing for the status quo. Note this is because someone should, not because he necessarily agrees with it.

He also contributes to a Politics Podcast.

“Would it be possible to pen an article arguing for the status quo? It’s not necessarily something I believe in this particular, but there is a case to be made that the best form of regulation for publicly elected officials is the ballot box, and in fact (half-jokingly) Derek Conway has helped to drive up turnout in elections by encouraging public accountability.”

Garbo - of The Poliblogs

Garbo is always entirely impartial and fair. Usually.

“I propose taking it all out of the hands of MPs and having an administration body do everything.”

To come

There will be contributions to the series from others, including Councillor Tony Sharp and Tim Ireland. I will add others here as they accept offers to contribute.

Wrapping-up

The aim is for the first article to be out this afternoon - but it will depend when they get to me.

If you would like to contribute to the series, drop me a line - I’m happy to keep this running for some time as it is important.

Tags: parliamentary pay, additional costs allowance, mp salary, mp wages, derek conway, peter hain[tags]parliamentary pay, additional costs allowance, mp salary, mp wages, derek conway, peter hain[/tags]