parliament

As parliament (not Parliament) winds down for its summer recess, now is a good time to think about your nominations for Bristol’s Parliamentarian of the Year 2010.

In traditional fashion (which I just made up) nominations for this award begin one week before the House rises for summer recess. The winner will be announced on the day preceding the return of the House. (5th September 2010)

Being an MP is not just about acting as “lobby fodder” for the Government in crucial votes, or taking on the role of glorified social worker for the less well-balanced members of their local community.

The fundamental role of a member of parliament is to read, scrutinise and ultimately contribute to legislation that affects every citizen of this county. This award exists to recognise the contribution of Bristol’s MPs to the parliamentary process, to encourage you to read Hansard (The House of Commons Daily Debates) and to highlight particularly worthy actions by your local MPs.

Charlotte Leslie MP, Bristol North West

Stephen Williams MP, Bristol West

Kerry McCarthy MP, Bristol East

Dawn Primarolo MP, Bristol South

Doug Naysmith, formerly Bristol North West 

Please send your nominations to BPY2010@jamesbarlow.co.uk, including the following information:

• The Name of the parliamentarian you wish to nominate.
• The specific action taken in Parliamentary debate for which you wish to nominate them, with reference to Hansard. The action should have taken place in the period since the preceding summer recess. For 2010, the qualifying period is 12th October 2009 – 27th July 2010
• The reason why you feel this action justifies recognition.

I’m seeking a panel of local citizens to review nominations and declare a winner. Please contact BPY2010@jamesbarlow.co.uk if you’re interested.

I’m seeking sponsorship from private individuals, local businesses or community groups to pay for the administration of this award, the production of a trophy, and any incidental expenses that may arise.

If you or your company/group would be interested in sponsoring this award, please contact BPY2010@jamesbarlow.co.uk for further information.

I’ve prepared the following preliminary sketches of what the trophy could look like, as a certificate, engraved plaque or (my personal favourite) a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative plate.

Over at Dizzy Thinks, the eponymous blogger asks:

Something has been bothering me about all these MPs, Tory and Labour, who have been found to be royally taking the piss out of the expenses system and thus quitting. Why is it that they're all stepping down at the next election? Why are they not going immediately?

It couldn't be because they need the money for just a little longer could it? Aren't we just being taken for fools by them some more? They're all going to potentially have another 10 months of spending taxpayer money. How is that a punishment exactly?

Two possibilities spring to mind. The first is that Parliament is anticipating another round of public humiliation over the Winding-Up expenditure allowance which is available to all MPs leaving Parliament.

The second reason is that another allowance to which they are all entitled - the Resettlement grant – cannot be claimed if an MP leaves a Parliament before a general election.

The Winding-Up Expenditure, as detailed in the Green Book:

[…] is designed to meet the cost of completing the outstanding parliamentary duties of a person who ceases to be a Member of Parliament. […] The allowance is available for all Members who fail to be re-elected or who do not stand at a General Election or who leave the House during a Parliament.

The calculation of the Wind-Up are a bit fiddly. At the last “big” review of allowances, the Select Committee on Members Estimate Committee (Third Report) made the following proposal:

Recommendation 31: We recommend that the Winding Up Allowance be renamed Winding Up Expenditure and that, after the next general election, the ceiling be calculated as one third of the relevant annual Staffing Expenditure, plus one third of the limit on Other Office Expenditure and one third of the actual annual office rent or lease claimed by each MP concerned.

The Resettlement Grant is even better:

[The grant] may be claimed to assist former Members with the costs of adjusting to non-parliamentary life. […] The Resettlement Grant is available for all Members who fail to be re-elected or who do not stand at a General Election. Members who leave the House during a Parliament are not eligible to claim the grant.

And it’s a very nice grant at that. It is service-related, with an entitlement equivalent to a minimum of 50% of parliamentary salary. After 15 years in Parliament an MP is entitled to a year’s salary. In all cases, the first £30,000 is tax free. To get some idea of the magnitude of this payment:

99 Members left the House at the 2001 General Election, receiving an average of 62% of final annual salary (about £3.2 million). 21 of these Members were defeated, with an average length of service of 8.5 years

136 Members left the House at the 2005 General Election, receiving an average of 64% of final annual salary (about £5.3 million). 45 of these Members were defeated, with an average length of service of 8.6 years.

A member who leaves during a Parliament for ill-health is of course entitled to an ill-health retirement grant which is calculated in exactly the same way as the resettlement grant. So don’t be surprised if – subsequent to any further public outrage – there are a few retirements on health grounds.

The first MP to get to the fees office with a bad cough is likely to beat the rush, and fly under the radar. I wonder who it will be?

Related Links

• The Green Book – Guidance on Members Allowances