Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Compare and contrast

Now here is an interesting little comparison. If you;re an MP you get allowances each year which amount of tens of thousands of pounds. However, if you're in the military and do a six month operational tour you get an allowance too, it is, slightly less though.
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The operational allowance is paid at the same rate for all qualifying locations. The allowance amounts to £2,380 for a six month operational tour, equating to £13.08 per day.
Which is worthy of larger sum? The men and women risking their lives, or the MPs that send them there?
Hat Tip: Croydonian

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps a job swap would bring it into sharp focus for Mr. Ainsworth.

Scary Mary said...

They get fed, clothed and housed so they don't need the money though. If MPs had a staff canteen, free housing and a tailors then it would be equal.

nbc said...

Scary,

Soldiers pay for their food and accommodation (unless on operations).

And tailors? WTF are you wittering about?

Get a f*cking clue.

DC said...

Scary,

We pay for our food and accomodation although currently at a lower than market rate. This is changing over time and the intention is to bring the rates in line with the private sector. We have no choice over where we live (although we knew that when we joined). For those of us who are married when we move every few years we do so to a property we have not chosen and often haven't seen. These are of very variable quality and we receive nothing from public funds to improve the property. If there is anything materially wrong it will be fixed (in time). We do get a one off allowance of roughly £1000 to pay for the costs incurred with moving such as disconnection/reconnection charges and buying new school uniforms.

As for tailoring formal uniform such as No 2 dress is tailored at public expense. Mine was fitted 14 years ago and hasn't been changed since. We don't get to put our John Rocha jeans in to get hemmed though.

Surreptitious Evil said...

If there is anything materially wrong it will be fixed (in time).And quite often you will be blamed (and charged) for the repairs. Even if they were necessary when you moved in (and the fact that they hadn't done them while the house was empty is normal.) The joys of "SFA".

But then Mary was clearly being ironic. Which passed some people by.

NH said...

"The operational allowance is paid at the same rate for all qualifying locations. The allowance amounts to £2,380 for a six month operational tour, equating to £13.08 per day."

Which is then taxed - how come no one is kicking up a stink about the lack of 40% tax on the additional expenses that MP's are claiming?!?