Chip Monk
05-18-2006, 08:57 PM
John Prescott is the Deputy Prime Minister in the UK Parliament. Recently it came to light that he was having an affair. With someone who worked within one of the Departments he headed up. Effectively a member of staff.
As you can imagine the opposition parties made great play on this, particularly as the Labour Party had made such a big deal about getting rid of "sleaze". To have an affair, bad enough. With a member of staff, surely an abuse of power.
Shortly thereafter there was a Cabinet re-shuffle. Basically people who ran the various Departments were re-organized and some were given new jobs. Unsurprisingly all of Prescott's Departmental responsibilities were taken away from him. He became a normal MP, but still with the title Deputy Prime Minister.
Now, here's the good bit. MPs are paid a basic salary, plus additional amounts depending on what other job they may do. Guess what cut in salary Prescott took? Fuck all, not one jot. He gave away all the responsibilities and kept getting the same pay. Not bad work if you can get it.
As you can imagine the opposition parties made great play on this, particularly as the Labour Party had made such a big deal about getting rid of "sleaze". To have an affair, bad enough. With a member of staff, surely an abuse of power.
Shortly thereafter there was a Cabinet re-shuffle. Basically people who ran the various Departments were re-organized and some were given new jobs. Unsurprisingly all of Prescott's Departmental responsibilities were taken away from him. He became a normal MP, but still with the title Deputy Prime Minister.
Now, here's the good bit. MPs are paid a basic salary, plus additional amounts depending on what other job they may do. Guess what cut in salary Prescott took? Fuck all, not one jot. He gave away all the responsibilities and kept getting the same pay. Not bad work if you can get it.