£22k!
The Manchester Evening News reports:
A Parliamentary candidate who could lose out on £22,000 in taxpayer cash if she is not elected to a Trafford seat next month says it could leave her unable to pay her mortgage.
A leaked letter revealed MP Angela Smith, who is standing as the Lib Dem candidate in Altrincham and Sale West, has appealed for a change in government rules.
She could lose out on the cash if she’s unsuccessful at the General Election on December 12. She says she is ‘fighting for fairness in how MPs are treated’.
Ms Smith, who ‘hates injustice’, described her ‘horror’ at the thought of missing out on the money.
She previously served as MP for Sheffield Hillsborough, from 2005 to 2010.
Ms Smith is currently MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, having been elected to the seat in 2010.
She quit the Labour Party in February alongside six other MPs. They formed The Independent Group, later renamed Change UK.
Government rules state that if an MP loses their seat, they are paid two month’s salary in a ‘loss of office’ payment.
The cash gives former MPs time to find alternative employment and adjust to life outside Parliament.
But, because Ms Smith is standing in a different constituency to the one she currently servces, she would not be entitled to the money if she is not elected in Altrincham and Sale West.
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha.
Repeated ad nauseam.
The general election is worth it for this alone. I hope each of them in turn feel the icy hand of unemployment…..
Never vote for an incumbent could be a great cultural rule.
I lack sympathy. I have in mind a long dead former Conservative MP who was in, out, in out, then in at a by-election and returned a couple of times before retiring. Long before generous expenses and pensions; he was in office thrice as a junior minister (when taking the job meant a loss of income for him). Someone who graced parliament and public life, believed in public service, and was in financial difficulties throughout, especially in retirement. Compare and contrast – he deserved much more (financial) support than he received just for holding up the Conservative banner in the NE of England from the 1920s to the 1950s.
I checked sympathy meter.
It’s reading zero.
There was a time when MPs didn’t receive a penny from the government. That all changed in 1910.
Then maybe instead of fighting (and lose) an election in the Altrincham and Sale West seat she should fight (and lose) an election in her former seat of Penistone and Stocksbridge.
Sure, chances are that her former constituents (who voted 60.65% to 39.35% in favour of leaving the EU), will feel sufficiently aggrieved at her treasonous and traitorous behaviour that they will neglect to re-elect her, but still, there’s £22,000 at stake.
Entitled snowflake feels entitled. Film at 11.
Presumably attempting to overturn the result of a National referendum doesn’t count as an injustice then?
It is an interesting feature of lefty institutions that they often use words to express the precise opposite of their actual meaning. Change UK, seems to mean Stay the Same UK.
Anyway, she chose to stand in a different constituency than the one where she knew that the electorate will give her a kicking. A kicking that she fully deserves for failing to do the job that she is being paid for and represent them. As a result she won’t be getting her pay off. Boo effing Hoo.
I think she’s totally correct. This is completely unfair.
So the two month’s salary buffer should be rescinded from all. Then, MP’s, knowing that they won’t get this buffer, will put aside some money to cover expenses from suddenly losing their job – which is a standard job hazard for politicians anyway (not to mention how the rest of us deal with the same thing).
Also, if your financial situation is so dire that its impossible to make your mortgage if one working member is out of work for a short period – then that’s on you. Sell the house and get one you can afford. Live within your means.
This is government we’re talking about here (or Parliament anyway). I’ve said previously on SD that they should learn to “spend less than they steal”.
Agammamon’s point about putting aside money for the financial hazard of being unemployed for a period after losing an election is a valid one. If it applies to contract workers (just as one example), then why shouldn’t the same apply to MP’s.
Sick and tired of the taxpayer having to cough up for everything all the time, plus £22,000 is a lot of money. That’s more than a big chunk of the electorate earn in a year.
Angela Smith’s concern she might not be reelected has contributed to her having good cause to be so concerned – or so I devoutly hope. 🙂
I felt a funny tinge of sadness at this situation. I feel better now.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8464151/angela-smith-mp-blames-funny-tinge-remark-tired/