MP argues for smaller Parliament
Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George has said that the number of MPs should be reduced to around 500 from the current 659.
Mr George believes that there are too many politicians, and this is one reason many of the public are “turned off” by politics.
On Tuesday he led a debate in the Commons seeking a review on the composition of Parliament.
Mr George argued that since the number of 659 was settled upon, further layers of representatives, notably the European Parliament and Scottish and Welsh devolution, have been created.
Pointing to the proposed loss of tens of thousands of civil servant jobs for efficiency sake, he told the House: “We cannot do that and be respected by the electorate, or by the civil servants who are losing their jobs, unless we also turn the focus on ourselves, and see what efficiency savings we can make in this place. There is certainly a perception out there that we in the House of Commons lead a charmed and luxurious life”
“When compared to countries with populations of a similar size, the UK appears to be rather over-represented.”
He claimed that the House of Commons Commission says that each MP costs about £211,000 per annum, including pay, allowances, office costs and so on and as such “reducing the number of MPs from 659 to about 500 would result in savings of about £40 million per annum.”
As such he called for a review of the functions and responsibilities of MPs, in conjunction with discussion about the reform of the upper house.
Responding during the debate the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs David Lammy suggested that it would be wrong for the Government to launch an inquiry into the number of MPs in Parliament while four boundary commissions were undertaking their reviews.
Mr Lammy explained that the personal link between an MP and his constituency was a “central and valued” part of our political democracy.
The debate did not however satisfy Mr George. Commenting afterwards he said: “Based on today’s effort it is clear that, left to Labour and the Conservatives, Parliament is incapable of reforming itself and will drift on with too many members for decades to come.
“Perhaps MPs should be forced to ask their electors what they would rather have – more money for health, education and police or spend £40-60m on keeping too many Members of Parliament.”
“The political classes are as remote and arrogant as they ever were.”
