MPs' salaries

It is difficult to establish the right pay for MPs, but here goes. We do have to attract people with ability so it must be high to do that. Possibly they could earn differential salaries depending on age and years of service in Parliament. How about this: Under 40. First term in parliament. £65,000 (novices but learning, we hope) Over 40 First term. £80,000 (i.e. people who have already had half a career) Second term all ages £90,000 (many potential ministers) Beyond two terms £100,000 (people who are not ministers but professional MPs) The price paid by MPs for the higher salaries should be: No expenses at all except when on official business, but keep additional salary for select committee chairs. Limited outside earnings as Labour suggests. All to show tax returns. This would attract decent people, but salaries would not be high enough to attract 'chancers' - they can go into the city and earn much more with less effort. But a key issue here is the way we structure political careers. We can learn from the USA here. We find virtually all our ministers from one single pool - the House of Commons. The Commons is full of people earning £65,000 which does not represent a ringing endorsement of their ability, these days about two thirds what a GP earns and probably half that of a solicitor or dentist. No wonder we complain about the low calibre of people on the front benches. If we could recruit ministers from OUTSIDE parliament we would be fishing in a much bigger pond and might hook some big fish where they are needed. There is a nonsense that says government must be accountable so ministers must be members of parliament. This is the result of a piece of traditional absurdity that does not allow 'strangers' on the floor of the House. Why on earth not?! Non parliamentary ministers could be summoned before the House or select committees and become accountable. What is more parliament could get rid of the incompetents, rogues and vagabonds simply by impeaching them or just voting them out of office. This is difficult when ministers are constituency-elected. It is complex but some of the principles need to be re-examined.