Why are Union officials today better than our MPs?

I have always thought that Frances O'Grady in her time as the leader of the TUC was an excellent speaker.

They are not better, but just have different jobs to do.
I feel that all MP’s are being unfairly thought of and treated when they too have a difficult job to do.They could earn much more in most cases by leaving politics and entering other professions.
Some years ago the police were treated in this way, public opinion was so against them because of the actions of a few.
We need MP’s just as we need the police.

They have also had proper jobs, not just studied ppe and gone to work at Westminster.

rosie1959

They should be well informed its what they are paid very large salaries for.
MPs have to have a knowledge of a plethora of subjects not just one

I think it's more that they are genuinely supporting their cause.

Union leaders may have one cause at the centre of their interests, but they have to know about numerous things that impact on that cause, so they are not one-trick ponies.

The difference is that MPs are juggling party policy, popularity and their own beliefs, and these things don't always coincide - in fact they are often in conflict.

Sharon Graham of Unite is another outstanding union leader. It's time that company profits and what they are spent on (share buy backs, excessive directors' pay and high dividends to shareholders) were looked at and used to negotiate better deals for the workers who actually make those profits.

Here's my favourite Adam Smith quote again:

No society can surely be happy and flourishing of which the far greater part of its members are poor and miserable. It is but equity, besides, that they who feed, clothe and lodge the whole body of the people, should have such a share of the produce of their own labour as to be themselves tolerably well fed, clothed and lodged

As Smith's work (so called 'Father of Economics') is much used to justify a great deal of capitalist practice it's relevant to point out that he also emphasises the need for fair and equitable dealing for the workers...

rosie1959

They should be well informed its what they are paid very large salaries for.
MPs have to have a knowledge of a plethora of subjects not just one

Actually ML and MPs have very similar salaries just over £84k. The difference being MPs also have expense accounts to fund their offices and assistants, not to mention subsidised eating and drinking in the H of C.
But you would imagine that if they were say a minister responsible for the railways they would have some knowledge wouldn't you?

Excellent question Glorianny. Mick Lynch is a hero imo. He’s articulate, intelligent and so far as I can see - honest

They should be well informed its what they are paid very large salaries for.
MPs have to have a knowledge of a plethora of subjects not just one

I see Spain is providing free train travel.

They can do so because the trains are nationalised.