I got an email from 38 degrees today asking my opinion on whether they should campaign on MPs and their potential payrise. A few minutes later I realised I was composing a blogpost in their comments field.
Do I think there should be changes made? I absolutely do. I’m tired of MPs quite frankly taking the mickey. Like the one we had in Derbyshire who stood while pregnant then went on maternity leave. There’s no cover if your MP is on maternity leave. That’s it, you’ve no representation. Does that seem right? Would it be so difficult to arrange a stand in?
Or how about my current mp? Parachuted into the area. And too busy to attend the #CIAdisability debate but not too busy to turn up to vote against the opposition. Which is apparently what she usually does. Makes a mockery of the campaigning I’ve been doing for the last year really.
So what do I think we should change? How about no second job. If you’re an MP, you work as an MP. And I think the party system is a huge part of our problem. It should be made possible for people to stand without party backingv whereas at the moment only the independently wealthy can afford to campaign. Set up a system that if someone can get endorsements from set number of voters then they can have certain level of expenses for campaigning, and don’t let parties spends over that. I’d also require people to have lived in area they wish to represent, the ideal is that MPs should have to justify their policies to their parents. The parachuting needs to stop.
There should be proper job descriptions, and include cover for maternity or sick leave it is ridiculous that voters can be unrepresented. Also could do with making hours at Westminster realistic at the moment next to impossible for anyone to do it and have proper family life.
What would you change to improve our political system?
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