Jacinda Ardern and ministers take 20% pay cut to show solidarity.

I am full of admiration of NZ during this crises.

I think NZ's PM is amazing - my son over there says they feel the same.

NO chance here. Our lot are set to claim more in expenses- £10000 if they want it. How different!

Can I point out that SNP MP's and MSP's haven't accepted any pay rises for years.The ones they cant avoid they donate to local charities .The FM is on the salary she had over 10 years ago .When news of the £10.000 came out a lot of them publicily said its a nonsemse the £26000 a year they already receive should be used to update laptops etc .

The £10,000, was, in fact to allow for laptops etc. needed when working from home. So that's a somewhat separate matter.

I do really like the solidarity message though. The NZ government are recognising that everyone has to take a cut. NZ will be very badly hit by this crisis, too.

I was watching Piers Morgan interviewing Matt Hancock this morning and I thought how embarrassing to Matt Hancock the way Piers Morgan wanted to ask questions but almost refused any answers coming from Hancock it resembled more of a slanging match to me. Piers Morgan went on to ask if Matt Hancock would be doing the same as Jacinda Ardern and taking a wage cut I got the impression that Mr Hancock did not like the question his answer was No. Mr. Morgan smiled smugly and thanked him for the interview.

Hetty58 no it isn't. At a time when there are people who won't be able to pay their mortgage because their job has gone, people in public services working fom home on outdated computer equipment paying their own telephone and electricitybills our MPs get expenses of up to £10000 while NZ MPs take a cut. It's exactly the same. More money for some and less for the rest here

Spot on trisher I completely agree. Well done NZ.

I don’t know what it is about JA but I wish it could be bottled and given to all political leaders

Another very sensible and sensitive action by the NZ Govt - I wish ours was as admirable.

Totally agree. I’m surprised this thread didn’t produce more “discussion”. Maybe because it’s a bit of a no brainer. It’s a good initiative, yes. It would be a fine thing if our MPs followed suit, yes.

The other thing which was mooted but probably won't be followed up without pressure from The Top, was that the pharmaceutical companies, banks and the 2 supermarket companies Foodstuffs Ltd and Progressive Foods, set up a fund from some of the massive profits they've made from the binge-buying locusts.
This could be used to help all the small businesses now failing.

Maybe Waitrose, Albi et all could do the smae?
f

I think the problem is that JA is absolutely authentic, the real deal. She listens to her heart and her head. I think she did this because it felt the right thing to do - not to gain political advantage. We just don’t have a political leadership that could live up to that degree of authenticity and sureness of touch. One day, she’ll make a misstep, of course she will, and my guess is she’ll be forgiven because it will have come from the right place even if the outcome was wrong. She’ll apologise without saying ‘sorry if some of you think.....’

I reckon I could manage on a 20% pay cut from a £225k salary. It’s only for six months, too so if it isn’t extended, that’s only 10%pa.

It’s not the money though is it, it’s thinking to make a gesture?

The more I hear about JA, the more I wish she was PM here... Bravo NZ. Getting it right again.

Agree with Suzie - it’s the gesture rather than the amount. Awarding MPs an extra £10k for ‘expenses’ on top of the £26k they already receive whilst relaxing the rules around producing evidence of purchase for example is a gesture that has the opposite effect.

SNP Scottish parliament MPs are giving their pay rise to charity. Conservatives are not .

What pay rise?