MPs' Terms and Conditions

MPs have come under considerable scrutiny over the last week. A number of questions remain to be answered. Here are some possible solutions.

• MPs' salary to be linked to what they earned in the 12 months previous to them joining Parliament, excluding earnings from investment income. This would allow the admission of higher earners who may have critical skills, but are put off by the salary. An MP must be selected for his or her desire to enter public service and not for pecuniary gain, nor lose out financially.
• Additional increments for levels of responsibility, such as serving on committees or being ministers.
• Given the uncertainty of the position of MP, a departure package of a full year's salary, if not 2 years.
• MPs to be able to lobby (it might be to generate jobs for their constituents, for example), but only for companies having operations within their constituency, and such lobbying to be free of charge, just as it is for the average constituent.

15 of the last 6 consecutive Tory party treasurers (the 16th is still in position) have been promoted to the House of Lords after having donated more than £3m prior to becoming treasurer. This has been called a coincidence by a government minister, but how many times must something happen before it's considered customary, traditional or corrupt? 

Tradition is one of the pillars of conservatism and I can see, in the not too distant future, the Tory party resorting to the defence of tradition to cover up money for peerages.