If politicians weren't mistrusted enough already..

[Rum]

If politicians weren't mistrusted and disliked enough already, in the context of redundancies, wage freezes, financial restraint and economic belt tightening they are going to be given a 9% pay rise!

Their pay may well have lagged behind for a good few years and they may well have a case too, but this is simply going to cause outrage.

Of course we trust them so little nowadays I half expect this to be part of a plan already agreed upon whereby in response to the inevitable outrage they have already decided to settle for 5%. Turds.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-23262503

MPs' pay: Watchdog to back pay rise of more than £6,000

The MPs' expenses watchdog will recommend a pay rise for MPs to £74,000 but will say there should be cuts to other allowances, the BBC has learned.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson says the body will back a rise for after the 2015 election but will recommend a less generous pension scheme.

There could also be cuts to meal allowances and taxi claims.

The proposals, to be unveiled on Thursday, will go to consultation before being finalised later this year.

MPs are currently paid £66,396, but that is due to rise to £67,060 in April 2014 and rise by a further 1% the following year.

The recommendation amounts to a rise of around £6,300 a year, or 9.3%, on what MPs would be getting in 2015.
'Unthinkable'

The proposals will also mean lower "golden goodbyes" for departing MPs, the BBC has learned.

"Resettlement grants" paid under the old expenses scheme were worth up to £64,766 for long-serving MPs still of a working age, the first £30,000 of which was tax-free.

They are not expected to be brought back for the 2015 election.

“Start Quote

A Labour source pointed out that the law which created Ipsa forces it to review MPs' pay again at the start of the next Parliament, so this pay rise was "pie in the sky" ”

But Nick Robinson said he understood that the money saved would not fully offset the increase in MPs' salaries.

On pensions - it has been reported that MPs' current final salary pension scheme will be downgraded to a career average system.

And the £15 allowance MPs are allowed to claim for dinner when they are required to stay in the Commons after 7.30pm will be scrapped.

Leading politicians have already spoken out against a pay rise for MPs, at a time when there is a pay freeze elsewhere in the public sector. David Cameron has said such a rise would be "unthinkable" and Nick Clegg said he would not take one.

But Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) chairman Sir Ian Kennedy has warned them not to interfere, as putting off difficult decisions was what lay behind the 2009 expenses crisis.

A senior Labour source said: "Our view is clear that any decision about MPs' pay must reflect wider economic circumstances and what is happening in the rest of the public sector.

"It must be consistent with what is happening to nurses, teachers and others in the public sector as well as conditions in the private sector."

[JimC]

Queensland State MPs just voted themselves a 42% pay rise, while quibbling on 2.5% for public servants...

Parasites...

[pErvinalia]

And they are implementing austerity in Qld too, like in the UK. over 10,000 public servants sacked, and then the cunts give themselves a 42% pay rise.

[Audley Strange]

Fucking brilliant. Good on them. I hope they keep doing it, I hope they rob us blind. I'm interested to see just what it takes in the West for people to actually get off their fucking knees and start bloodying their hands.

[Clinton Huxley]

Don't seem to have the appetite. Can't imagine a repeat of the poll tax riots occurring. A good riot now and then keeps the politicos scared. As they should be.

I might go out and tip over a road cone later.

[Tyrannical]

At a $100K US, that's not a lot of money.

[Audley Strange]

Don't seem to have the appetite. Can't imagine a repeat of the poll tax riots occurring. A good riot now and then keeps the politicos scared. As they should be.

I might go out and tip over a road cone later.

Yeah, a few beheadings of M.P's and imprisonments of civil servants in the tower and those fucks would clean up their act right quick. As for now, as I said, we're on our knees presenting ourselves. Why wouldn't they fuck us?

[Rum]

Be careful what you wish for. I have been in the midst of social disorder and it is very very scary and the outcomes are never certain - as many recent examples indicate.

[pErvinalia]

Fucking brilliant. Good on them. I hope they keep doing it, I hope they rob us blind. I'm interested to see just what it takes in the West for people to actually get off their fucking knees and start bloodying their hands.

I must admit that I also have a kind of sick fascination to see how much injustice people will take before they finally snap. At this point, I think we will be wiped out by biological/ecological disaster before the average westerner gets off the couch and does something about their arse raping.

[pErvinalia]

At a $100K US, that's not a lot of money.

Qld's premier now gets paid about the same as the US president. There's something wrong with a provincial leader being paid as much as the leader of capitalism-central.

[Audley Strange]

Be careful what you wish for. I have been in the midst of social disorder and it is very very scary and the outcomes are never certain - as many recent examples indicate.

I agree with that, but it is a case of shit or get off the pot. It's not like government acting like fuckers is particularly novel. What is fairly novel is the apathetic whining. You think drawing an x on a bit of paper guarantees a certain outcome? Many many examples would also indicate otherwise.

[Tyrannical]

At a $100K US, that's not a lot of money.

Qld's premier now gets paid about the same as the US president. There's something wrong with a provincial leader being paid as much as the leader of capitalism-central.

Does she get to take $100 million vacations like Obama? I think not.

[pErvinalia]

His vacations cost THAT much?! Evidence, please.

[Tyrannical]

His vacations cost THAT much?! Evidence, please.

Must not have been reported on over in Oz.

http://rt.com/usa/obama-africa-trip-cost-176/

President Barack Obama’s trip to Africa is estimated to cost American taxpayers $100 million – a hefty travel expense that has sparked criticism as the federal government is dealing with its sequester-related budget cuts.

The president is traveling to sub-Sahara Africa with his family from June 26 to July 3. The Obamas will be accompanied by hundreds of Secret Service agents and staff, which stack up transportation and accommodation costs. Military cargo planes will bring 56 vehicles including 14 limousines and three trucks loaded with bulletproof glass to cover the windows of the hotels where the Obamas will stay. Fighter jets will fly in the air space above the first family to provide round the clock protection.

Now of course the President doesn't travel lite, and protection isn't cheap. But $100M for a week seems excessive.

But the point is, don't look at the salary as it's the least important cost.

[pErvinalia]

Holy fuck! That's obscene!