Is there any truth in what Alan Duncan (the Tory MP) said about the MP's Salaries?

"No one who's done anything in the outside world or is capable of doing such a thing will ever come into this place ever again the way we're going."

"Basically it has been nationalised. You have to live on rations and you are treated like shit."


This was the remarks Alan Duncan, Shadow Commons leader, made to film maker Heydon Prowse of Don't Panic magazine.


Now every Tom, Dick and Harry were quick to condemn him and people were asking him to resign. But seriously isn't there truth in his claim?

MP's are paid around £60,000 a year which looks like a big salary and could raise the question what is he complaining about. But what he is saying is any one who is capable of doing anything better outside would never join politics. Isn't it true? Do we want a bunch of average people who couldn't get any other better paid jobs to run our country?

Has anyone thought of the low self esteem these MPs will feel while dealing with the movers and shakers of the City?

Has anyone thought that this could make them more inclinied to become corrupt?

Has anyone thought about how these underpaid people will represent us in the UN, the EU etc where the people they deal there are Harward, Yale and Princeton grads?

We can take the moral high ground and say oh only those who want to serve the people/community should come to politics; but end of the day this is like any other job and if you want the best people you have to pay for it. Otherwise you will get what you pay for