Anorak

Anorak News | Politics Is A Family Business

Politics Is A Family Business

by | 3rd, February 2008

peter-hain-toast.jpgPETER Hain employs his 80-year-old mother on a House of Commons salary of £5,400 a year.

Hain has used Adelaine Hain as a part-time secretary for 16 years.

The Telegraph reports that more than 170 MPs – one in four – employ family members.

Indeed, more power to them. The money saved on advertising positions vacant and interviewing candidates must save the public purse a not inconsiderable sum. 

Anroak recommends this policy being developed and candidate MPs required to have at least one member of the family with decent shorthand, a sound telephone manner and their own pen…  

Owen Paterson, the shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland whose wife Rose is paid almost £30,000 year to work for him, said: “If you can find me a Cambridge graduate who has an encyclopaedic knowledge of my constituency, who is willing to work long and anti-social hours at very short notice for that sort of salary then good luck. Until then, my wife is the best person for the job.”

Quite.

Picture: Peter Hain is toast – Poldraw



Posted: 3rd, February 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Politicians Comments (4) | TrackBack | Permalink