MP claimed expenses to pay his daughter's rent

[Johnuk123]

Professions?
The footballer is a professional (& perhaps overpaid) unless an amateur
A MP's role ought to be a vocation - with renumeration.

But do NHS consultants massage their expenses like MPs have a track record of doing?
Which is what this thread started as being but the wandering route is an interesting permitted route
And Consultants may well save or enhance lives whereas MP's toe the party line and enjoy the power and glamour.
And I have yet to hear a medical consultant called sleezy

I don't think anybody could say an MP was a professional.

How can anybody who requires no training and no qualifications be classed as such.

I don't think an MP fits these 2 official descriptions.

"A professional is a practitioner whose practice is based on a significant body of theory, has appropriate qualifications from a recognized body of peers, is committed to undergoing continuous professional development and consult best practices before undertaking work, and operates and is held to a code of conduct."

A profession is an occupation which requires knowledge in a field of science or learning characteristically acquired through education or training equivalent to a bachelor’s or higher degree with major study in, or pertinent to, the specialized field - as distinguished from general education. ...

Source - International Professional Practice Partnership.

 

[HST Power]

I don't think anybody could say an MP was a professional.

How can anybody who requires no training and no qualifications be classed as such.

Just because qualifications are not a prerequisite for getting into Parliament does not mean that all Members are drop-outs who quit at 16. I think you're forgetting the hordes of lawyers and former businessmen currently serving on the back and front benches alike. Do you think that any idiot can just walk into Westminster and sit in the House? In order to qualify as an MP you have to have experience doing something else, be it in business or in the army, as many present members do. David Cameron worked at Carlton Communications before he stood for Parliament. I can name plenty of Members who have worked in what you might define as a 'profession,' which serves as building blocks for a career in Westminster.

 

[edwin_m]

Fewer now than there used to be. A lot of MPs have had careers entirely in politics with little experience of working in what others might call the "real world", starting from university as political researchers and working their way upward.

David Cameron's "real" job was in PR, which may or may not be significant depending on your point of view!

 

[Johnuk123]

Just because qualifications are not a prerequisite for getting into Parliament does not mean that all Members are drop-outs who quit at 16. I think you're forgetting the hordes of lawyers and former businessmen currently serving on the back and front benches alike. Do you think that any idiot can just walk into Westminster and sit in the House? In order to qualify as an MP you have to have experience doing something else, be it in business or in the army, as many present members do. David Cameron worked at Carlton Communications before he stood for Parliament. I can name plenty of Members who have worked in what you might define as a 'profession,' which serves as building blocks for a career in Westminster.

Do you think that any idiot can just walk into Westminster and sit in the House?

- Any idiot can be an MP.

In order to qualify as an MP you have to have experience doing something else, be it in business or in the army, as many present members do

- No such rule exists.

 

[jb]

Fewer now than there used to be. A lot of MPs have had careers entirely in politics with little experience of working in what others might call the "real world", starting from university as political researchers and working their way upward.

Leaving aside the specific issue of remuneration, this is a big part of the problem with modern politics for me - the idea that the country is run by a combination of these "professional politicians" and of lawyers. Both groups share the curious feature of knowing absolutely nothing about the world outside their specific bubble (a bit sweeping but there you are).

Proper remuneration for MPs would be good if it attracted serious technocrats with proper experience of the real world into politics.

Do you think that any idiot can just walk into Westminster and sit in the House?

That is not a matter of opinion.

 

[IanD]

Of course someone who lives several hundreds of miles away from London would need a hotel room but why does an MP from say Milton Keynes need a second home in another City like, ooh Southampton where her partner just happens to work!

Luton! MK gets enough stick without being associated with crooked MPs. MK MPs are all above reproach . (Apropos of nothing, I don't think Brian White is an MP here anymore but for some reason he has been appointed Mayor of MK.)

 

[HST Power]

- Any idiot can be an MP.

- No such rule exists.

All you really did there was repeat your original post, in which case I sense we are going to disagree on the broader issues, hence I see no point in continuing the discussion. I could be wrong about the rule but if you could point me to official documentation that verifies such I would be happy to read it.

 

[Johnuk123]

All you really did there was repeat your original post, in which case I sense we are going to disagree on the broader issues, hence I see no point in continuing the discussion. I could be wrong about the rule but if you could point me to official documentation that verifies such I would be happy to read it.

I could say that you should provide official documentation to prove your statement that you have to have been a businessman or a soldier.

Anyway as you say we disagree so no need to keep arguing.

 

[WessexEclectic]

Proper remuneration for MPs would be good if it attracted serious technocrats with proper experience of the real world into politics.

But what good would that be when few laws and regulations originate in the British parliament. People want to be where the action is...

 

[455driver]

Luton!

Apologies, I knew it was around there somewhere.

 

[cjp]

I could say that you should provide official documentation to prove your statement that you have to have been a businessman or a soldier.

Anyway as you say we disagree so no need to keep arguing.

I support your assertion.
I venture to suggest that otherwise we would not have the situation of trade unionist becoming MPs and what were the name of those activist from Northern Ireland? None of thich would I think would claim to be in the forces?
Although all might have claimed expenses:cry:
Bernardette Devlin??

 

[Johnuk123]

I support your assertion.
I venture to suggest that otherwise we would not have the situation of trade unionist becoming MPs and what were the name of those activist from Northern Ireland? None of thich would I think would claim to be in the forces?
Although all might have claimed expenses:cry:
Bernardette Devlin??

Bernadette Devlin-McAliskey is an IRA sympathiser and money raiser who left her psychology course and became an M.P. at the age of 21.