MPs stepping down ‘should not get a payout’, says Conservative MP – UK politics live
The Guardian says Reacting to the news that payments for MPs who lose their seats or step down at the next general election will be doubled, Conservative MP Bob Seely (Isle of Wight), told TalkTV this morning:
“I don’t think people resigning should be getting a payout.
“But this is an independent body, I’m afraid to say we don’t get to vote on it unless somebody tells us that we do, and frankly, I am more concerned about dealing with my constituency casework.
“So I’m not particularly happy about this either because it just shows us in a bad light and despite the fact it’s an independent body, everyone is going to blame us for it. It really winds me up, frankly.”
More than 70 MPs have announced they will not stand again at the next general election.
Those standing down include former Tory cabinet ministers Dominic Raab, Matt Hancock and Sajid Javid, and the current defence secretary Ben Wallace.
Labour former ministers Harriet Harman and Margaret Hodge have also said they plan to step down, as has the SNP’s former leader at Westminster Ian Blackford.