I had not thought about the Ministerial Code. Surely the Leader of the Opposition, who already receives a quasi-ministerial salary, is not currently bound the Code?
Fundamentally, it is right to recompense people who play an important role in our politics and work hard. It could also attract talent and, for some, make up for a loss of other income when you become a shadow minister. And it might prevent shadow ministers from taking money from other sources.
Thinking about this more, surely the same arguments for giving ministers a salary on top of their salary as MPs also applies to senior frontbenchers? The Act could quite simply be amended to allow the Leader of the Opposition to nominate X number of shadow ministers to receive a salary of Y.
An interesting detail in The Times this evening. Under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, of opposition MPs, only the Leader of the Opposition, Chief Opposition Whip and two Assistant Opposition Whips are afforded salaries. Is it time to rethink that?
Absolutely. I should have made that clear. These salaries are on top of their salaries as MPs, as is also the case for ministers.
An interesting detail in The Times this evening. Under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, of opposition MPs, only the Leader of the Opposition, Chief Opposition Whip and two Assistant Opposition Whips are afforded salaries. Is it time to rethink that?
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I'm in the latest issue of the Edinburgh Law Review, with a short overview on Article 2 of the Windsor Framework and why it's emerged as the most powerful guarantee against any post-Brexit rollback of rights in NI + why GB should also be aware of it. Huge thanks to Chris McCorkindale for the chance
During the general election campaign, we, with @instituteforgov.bsky.social and UK Governance Project, published a list of seven steps to restore trust in government ethics, many of which a Prime Minister could easily implement straightaway. Find out more 👇