Call to ‘prune’ the Commons
The Conservative Party’s economic affairs spokesman has called for the number of MPs in the House of Commons to be trimmed.
Andrew Tyrie, Conservative MP for Chichester, in his new book “Pruning the Politicians” which outlines his cost-cutting agenda, said axing the number of MPs by a fifth could save £25 million a year in taxpayers’ money.
Under the controversial plans – which would save a estimated £15 million a year in pay and allowances and a £10 million in administration costs, the current number of 659 MPs would be slashed to 550.
The Times newspaper said the idea could find its way into the Conservatives’ general election manifesto and would win favour with leader Michael Howard, an advocate of “small government”.
Mr Tyrie is quoted by The Times as saying: “The public do not want to pay more for politicians. They do not want more politicians and prefer to see a reduction in their number.
“Politicians should find a way to arrest the growth in the cost of democratic politics. The best place to start – and the best signal for politicians to send – would be for the Commons to prune itself.”
Mr Tyrie said the Boundary Commission would be handed the onerous job of reducing the number of MPs.
In two reviews, the Commission could axe the number of constituencies by around 10 per cent in the first instance to 600 and then 550 at the next.
“Reducing the size of the Commons will be popular. It will be logical. It will save money. But any such proposal will meet the obstacle of party and personal interest. No rational party rushes to weaken its electoral position nor do MPs rush to end their careers prematurely,” he said.
