Mutiny Against the Bounty
The House of Commons decided by a free vote last week that Members of Parliament should have an extra £500 a year and that this should be in the form of a straight salary increase. These were sensible decisions. If Parliament is to function properly something must be done to alleviate the plight of those hundred-odd MPs whose personal worries about.money increasingly distract their attention from the public service. A straightforward increase will rouse much less hostility and misunderstanding in the country than the most cunningly contrived scheme of `expenses.' In the circumstances. the House decided wisely, and the Prime Minister obviously believes that the decision must now be honoured. There the matter might well rest; but a growing number of Conservative MPs seem disposed to wear their consciences as showily as possible on their sleeves. Miss Irene Ward flaunted hers in the House on Tuesday, but Sir Winston was singularly un- impressed. On the evening of the same day there were many heated words on the same subject at a meeting of the Con- servative Members' Committee. Sir John Mellor has repudiated Sir Winston's leadership and decided to sit as an Independent Conservative. All this is heavy weather with a vengeance. The t question here is still: is the House of Commons to be made more efficient, or is it not ? if it is, then members must be enabled to make ends meet. Those who are in a position to do that for themselves are under no obligation to accept the £500. But if they persist in parading their virtue, their attitude may well savour more strongly of Politics than of conscience.
Previous page
