Am I alone in finding this so tawdry?

Mine neither, one of the good ones.

How can anyone truly know why an MP has gone into politics?

Oreo

How can anyone truly know why an MP has gone into politics?

You can’t know.
People apply to do jobs because it’s something they want to do. The pay that goes with it is an added incentive.

Sometimes they give reasons. An old favourite is “I want to give something back to the community”

Only someone who works for nothing can truly be said not to be in it for the money.

Oreo

How can anyone truly know why an MP has gone into politics?

By speaking to them?

By speaking to them?

Absolutely! At the last general election we had meetings with all the main party contenders.
All of them without exception told us in their own words, that they wanted to be there to make things better, not just for the country as a whole but for the local people in our constituency.

Three out of the four, (not the Green Party candidate) told us that there was a long road ahead and they want to be elected so they could start work on all the problems.
Two out of the four, used the I want to give something back to our community which was funny, because one of them wasn’t even local.
We didn’t ask about money, but if I’m around next time I certainly will.
I’m sure I would have been told that that wasn’t the reason they wanted to be elected. But then, nobody interviewing for any job, does that.

Maybe we should forget all about diversity and representation of all walks of life in our MPs and just revert to the pre early 20th C version of government with a limited franchise no women voted) and MPs were all wealthy people who financed themselves and did a bit of governing in their spare time.

It is clear that people don't value MPs at all and don't think they do a vital job, so why do we bother?

Perhaps a dictatorship with one person a man, of course, running the show and no representation of 'the people' would suit us much better? No donations, no large salaries, no 'expenses', no subsidised meals, to bitch about. Bliss...

Just because we'd like a little more integrity in those who represent us in Parliament doesn't mean we want to lose our democracy!

It's not just one Party, it is seemingly all of the Parties over the years who have had some MPs who do not uphold the standards of behaviour we might expect from those we choose to represent us.

That does not mean that they are all reprehensible.

It is clear that people don't value MPs at all and don't think they do a vital job, so why do we bother?

Lovely 🧹 sweeping statement. Not true, but well put.

It is clear that people don't value MPs at all
Proof of that?
Or clarify with
^It is clear that some people don't value some MPs at all and don't think some of them do a vital job.

That would be true.
so why do we bother?

As Allira posted above,

Just because we'd like a little more integrity in those who represent us in Parliament doesn't mean we want to lose our democracy!

It's not just one Party, it is seemingly all of the Parties over the years who have had some MPs who do not uphold the standards of behaviour we might expect from those we choose to represent us.

That does not mean that they are all reprehensible.

Actually, I did think it was funny though!
Who would we moan about then?

Oh, there's always H and M

(ducks for cover

I’ve signed a petition to stop MP’s of any parties accepting gifts. When I worked as a public servant we were not allowed to accept gifts and hospitality to maintain our integrity. MP’s should be the same.

25Avalon

I’ve signed a petition to stop MP’s of any parties accepting gifts. When I worked as a public servant we were not allowed to accept gifts and hospitality to maintain our integrity. MP’s should be the same.

Agree 👏👏👏