Via the Devil’s Kitchen, I am drawn to the plight of those MPs who lose their seats and discover that life after politics it isn’t all its cracked up to be.
Some MPs struggle to find a new job after losing their seat and many end up earning less than they did in the House of Commons, a study suggests.
Having experienced redundancy followed by a pretty rough ride during subsequent self-employment before finding a contract that will earn me a decent living, I can almost sympathise. Almost. MPs however have systematically treated the electorate they are supposed to serve with arrant contempt, so my sympathy is a brief spark, snuffed out almost as soon as it ignites.
The report shows the idea that there are “hundreds of ex-MPs walking into cushy and lucrative jobs is rubbish,” says co-author Kevin Theakston.
That’s no bad thing – it will do them good to have a taste of the real world. We have to, after all. It’s just a shame that more of them don’t experience it before they enter politics and start messing about with other peoples’ lives and livelihoods.
Among comments from respondents were “new jobs are not easy to come by” and “many MPs do not appreciate their skills on entering Parliament will not be, and are not relevant, when they leave”.
I’m sorry, but what skills would those be? Given that many of these lazy, useless parasites have never experienced real work one wonders just what it is they have to offer the real world economy when they leave the rarified environment of parliament. Being able to talk a great deal without achieving anything positive? Being able to screw others over while making a good living for oneself? Where, exactly, would those skills come in handy?
A high proportion of those who do find work get places on quangos.
Well, there’s a surprise…
I’m a little less venal about them. In the bad old days I sometimes saw one chap, clearly an ex pollie or company chairman and he was so out of place at Hendon. For most of them there, it wasn’t that big a deal but for him it must have been the pits. I’d like to have known how he came to that impasse.
My cynicism towards politicians is a consequence of observing their behaviour. If they didn’t keep trying to erode our liberties, I’d be somewhat more generous in my attitude. While they continue to deceive, lie, bully and defraud, I will continue to despise them.