LETTER: MPs' salaries: market forces, professional parity and job cuts
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.From Mr David Wyatt
Sir: Andrew Marr is generous to MPs ("For a mediocre wage you get a dim MP", 16 January) in supporting the campaign now being launched by members of both parties for a whacking increase in their salaries. He dismisses all too glibly the "market" argument. The corrosive doctrine that all social, ethical and cultural values must be subject to the discipline of market forces has nowhere been preached as loudly over the past 20 years as from the Palace of Westminster. Not a penny more should be found for MPs' pay until all possible efficiency savings have been made. We managed very well in the past without a stage army of ministers of state and parliamentary under-secretaries; we should do so now.
Nor does the market admit of unchanging levels of remuneration for diminishing responsibilities. Parliament has successively handed over to a higher authority, by accession to the Treaty of Rome and by approving the single market, some of its legislative powers. Since MPs are thereby rendered proportionately of less value to the electorate, they should be a lesser burden on it.
Yours faithfully,
David Wyatt
London, NW1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments