Lembit Opik on QT last night was the only politician honest enough to explain the utter bogusness of the MPs’ exes scandal. As I blogged when the story broke, www.peterburden.net/archives/140 , these expenses weren’t expenses, they were merely a way of topping up MPs’ salaries up to a level that came somewhere near the rate for the job. Naturally the Cheeky Chappy had to score a political point by blaming Margaret Thatcher (who was taken away by the men in white coats over 18 years ago).
    If the MPs had had the bollocks (ovaries in the case of the female members) to explain that unless a proper rate for the job is paid, we will carry on getting a high proportion of frankly second-rate brains and operators sitting on the Green benches. Very few people are self-sacrificing enough to take a step down in income (especially if they have a family) to take on a job which, when done properly, is arduous and personally demanding.
    Perhaps the biggest culprit in all this is Mr Joe Public, who has largely been too myopic and small-minded to understand what to expect from an MP in return for the salary of a head teacher.
    Of course, there are a few dishonest, self-serving shits in the House of Commons (they know who they are) and at least this crisis is weeding them out.

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