The “grim” struggle of living on an MP’s *£81,932 salary* [angry]

Ohh - just thought.....

Does he still have his HGV licence?

MaizieD

I think people had better consider his background before making sweeping judgements:

Before university he worked around Australia, including three weeks teaching at Geelong Grammar School deputising for the explorer and teacher John Béchervaise, and unloading trucks in Melbourne docks. In between, he spent a week walking in Mount Field National Park with Tenzing Norgay. After university, he became a lorry driver and joined the Transport and General Workers Union, before moving on to industrial sales and industrial relations.[3] In the early 1970s, he co-founded the Neighbourhood Council in South Lambeth, resulting in the creation of football pitches and other facilities at Larkhall Park. His last job before entering Parliament was putting lights outside theatres and cinemas in London's West End. Bottomley joined the Conservative Party in 1972, at the age of 28.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bottomley

Not quite a gilded youth.

But, I am willing to concede that it was the most crass and insensitive claim to make at this moment.

I really don't care if he was Mother Theresa.

Perhaps he could get himself promoted to a senior post again and then he'd get a senior salary.

Apparently all we need to do to get a better salary is to ask for it, according to the guests on Jeremy Vine today.

He is the son of sir James Bottomly, according to that wiki page.

"But when you are, and I think Peter is, over 70 and you’ve all those years of seniority and you are [still] making £82,000 pounds.

Doesn't the Father of the House get a bit extra?

I think people had better consider his background before making sweeping judgements:

Before university he worked around Australia, including three weeks teaching at Geelong Grammar School deputising for the explorer and teacher John Béchervaise, and unloading trucks in Melbourne docks. In between, he spent a week walking in Mount Field National Park with Tenzing Norgay. After university, he became a lorry driver and joined the Transport and General Workers Union, before moving on to industrial sales and industrial relations.[3] In the early 1970s, he co-founded the Neighbourhood Council in South Lambeth, resulting in the creation of football pitches and other facilities at Larkhall Park. His last job before entering Parliament was putting lights outside theatres and cinemas in London's West End. Bottomley joined the Conservative Party in 1972, at the age of 28.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bottomley

Not quite a gilded youth.

But, I am willing to concede that it was the most crass and insensitive claim to make at this moment.

Michael Portillo, not really making things any better:

"So if you went into the House of Commons at 26 and you get £82,000 you think, ‘this is fantastic’ because you were stacking shelves the week before, or whatever," he said.

"But when you are, and I think Peter is, over 70 and you’ve all those years of seniority and you are [still] making £82,000 pounds.

Some people are so cut off from the rest of the world that they only comprehend their little circle. It is quite frightening when they are also politicians who are supposed to be ‘in touch’ with their electorate. The best thing is to vote them out because they will never understand or comprehend how ordinary people live.