I picked up a copy of Mark Thomas People's Manifesto recently having missed most of the shows on R4 and looking through it there are some very good ideas in there mixed in with some really surreal ones.
1, MP's get a loan as opposed to a salary which is repaid once they leave office. After all, MP's are pretty much guarranteed to get a high paid job once they leave office.
2. MP's can not take second jobs. Look at the state of the country at the moment, we have a war in afghanistan, illegal occupation of iraq, a deficit that our grandchildren will still be paying off and public services that are unable to function in their current state. Surely this is proof enough that being an MP, bringing the government to account and representing their constituents is a full time job. If MP's are going to take other jobs then let thier constituents decide what jobs they can have.
3. MP's second homes (defined as the ones closest to Westminster) become the property of the state once they leave office. These can then either be recycled for their replacements or rented cheaply to people who actually benefit society such as teachers, nurses etc.
