When the Corona Virus first struck New Zealand earlier this year, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took drastic measures to protect the people that she had been elected to serve.  In the spirit of leadership and solidarity she, together with her cabinet and senior members of the civil service, took a six month’s pay cut of 20%.  I wrote to Boris Johnson at the time, telling him of this and suggested that the British public would welcome a similar gesture from him and his senior colleagues.  I have yet to receive a reply from him.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak is about to announce the measures to be taken to recoup some of the money that the government has spent in tackling the virus.  Those working in the public sector, apart from the NHS, will have their pay frozen. Whilst most of us would accept that there is no such thing as a free lunch, it seems that, once again, the poorest in society who will bear the brunt of these cuts.  Many people working in the public sector have, over successive years, had their jobs outsourced to private companies.  Their wages, hours and terms of conditions have all been greatly reduced.  Whilst the pandemic clearly demonstrated the vital contribution that this group play, it has yet to be reflected in better pay and conditions for them.

The basic annual salary for an MP is £79,000 plus expenses – a salary that most public sector employees can only dream of. Additionally, all MPs will receive a pay rise of £3,000 from April 2021. Boris Johnson, meanwhile, has complained that he finds it difficult to manage on his annual salary of £160,000. There is a growing disconnect between MPs and the people they were elected to serve and represent. MPs’ pay and status have effectively removed them from the harsh realities that their policies have created. By following the example set by Jacinda Ardern of taking a 20% pay reduction, MPs could earn some much- needed credibility from the electorate. It remains to be seen if they will.

Yours sincerely

Ed Runham