Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/466/1845
From The Socialist newspaper, 7 December 2006
MPs wannabe rich
OUR MPS want parity with GPs so they've put in a 66% pay claim that would take their salaries to £100,000 a year. As Paul Kenny of the GMB union said, it is disgraceful that "MPs should get ten times the national minimum wage - especially after supporting the imposition of a 3% cap on public sector workers' pay rise.
"These people enjoy large allowances and expenses. This year they protected their own pension scheme but cut those of the lowest-paid workers. How out of touch can they get?" he asked.
The Socialist Party says that in order not to lose touch with workers, public representatives should receive only the wage of a skilled worker. Dave Nellist was Labour MP for Coventry South East from 1983 to 1992. A supporter of Militant, the socialist's predecessor, Dave was known as a workers' MP on a worker's wage. He took only the wage of a skilled factory worker, less than half of what other MPs took for themselves.
Labour has changed a lot since those days but who can doubt which example most workers would rather see their representatives follow?
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In The Socialist 7 December 2006:
Building the national day of action
War and terrorism
Bush and Blair still in denial
"The greatest strategic disaster in American history"
Workplace news
300,000 workers in PCS strike Ballot
Blood service staff prepared to fight job losses
Socialist Students
Campaign to Defeat Fees is building across London
Fight Blair's divisive academy programme
Socialism 2006
Britain's Muslims under siege - which way forward?
Do you have to be red to be green?
Socialism 2006 - another major step forward
Socialist Party news and analysis
200 march against Lincoln's far right
Trident - a waste of our money
Privatised rail bosses hike up fares
International socialist news and analysis
Chávez re-election - a set-back for the right
Balance sheet of WASG national conference
Political tensions rage in Bolivia
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