Two voices: How can MPs win back the public’s trust?
This week’s two voices asks what our MPs need to do to win back the public’s trust?
Abigail Jacobi says…
With less than two months until the UK goes to the polls, it seems we’re heading straight for another election cycle tinged with lies, scandal and questionable candidates.
But far from discussing the wrongdoing of senior members of parliament exposed in “cash for access” scandals, discussion seems to have veered towards analysis of MPs’ salaries.
Numerous articles this week have highlighted the fact that more than half of the MPs who entered the House of Commons at the last election took a pay cut in order to do so.
Malcolm Rifkind MP – one of those embroiled in this most recent scandal – was recently quoted as saying that it was unrealistic for MPs to have to live on their parliamentary salaries alone. And yet, MPs are paid a basic wage of £67,060 plus expenses.
That is three times higher than the national average salary and significantly more than the £288 a week (equivalent to less than £15,000 per annum) earned by the bottom 10 per cent of full-time employees.
To my mind, the only way for MPs to gain public trust is for them to spend more time with constituents – learning to understand how best to represent their interests and needs. While “cash for access” might not prevent MPs fulfilling their responsibilities, a lack of understanding of their constituents absolutely will.
•Abigail Jacobi is outreach co-ordinator for Liberal Judaism
Andree Frieze says…
Another month, another case of MPs accused of lining their pockets – this time heavyweights Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw.
No wonder people are fed up with politicians. This further loss of trust has wider implications: many people already feel politics is not relevant to them; that all the parties are the same, it doesn’t matter who gets in; or “What’s the point? Nothing ever changes.”
But, politics does count. The changes to how our children are taught, the private companies running sections of the NHS, the food banks feeding people caught out by welfare sanctions – all these happened because of what politicians did in parliament. It is essential, therefore, that people trust MPs and political parties.
So I suggest that no MP has a second job, directorship or consultancy role while in Parliament; no MP should serve more than three terms in office and all salaries, pensions and expenses must be decided by an independent body.
Finally, to clarify for those who believe that all political parties are the same, the Green Party is already different.
We have an ethical policy over those from whom we take donations and we refuse money from those who do not pay their tax properly.
•Andree Frieze is a member of Kingston Liberal Synagogue and the Green Party candidate for Richmond Park
[polldaddy poll=8720985]
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
