'Axing MPs would save the country £1.5bn in one go', says NELC leader Chris Shaw
SCRAP them all!
That's the radical proposal from council leader Chris Shaw for cutting public spending – getting rid of all of the country's 650 MPs.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Chris Shaw
Under his grand plan, the House of Commons would instead be filled by Councillor Shaw and his fellow local authority leaders.
The Lords would also be scrapped, with a new upper house comprising 100 directly-elected regional representatives in its place.
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Councillor Shaw says his vision, which he plans to outline to ministers today , would save the country £1.5 billion.
Councillor Shaw said: "There are 650 MPs earning a basic salary of £67,000 a year. On top of that is the money they claim for running their offices in London, their second home expenses, and transport. The average cost per MP is £250,000 a year.
"Then there is the House of Lords where they get £300 per day for turning up.
"We do need two chambers as we need the checks and balances, so what we could do is get rid of the House of Lords and have an elected upper house of 100 representatives from the regions. It would be an English Assembly and it would only deal with national issues.
"Local issues would be taken on by the other house and this would consist of – and I would say this wouldn't I – the leaders of councils. The only expense it would incur would be a day's rail travel to London and at most one night's accommodation and travel back.
"They wouldn't need any extra officers in London because they would have the officers they have got from their own local authorities.
"It needs working on but it I think it's got merit. I reckon it could save the country £1.5 billion. You could use half a billion of that to pay down the deficit and the rest could be spread among local authorities to improve services."
Councillor Shaw says he plans to raise his radical cost-cutting proposal with Communities Secretary Eric Pickles, who he will meet along with other council leaders from the Yorkshire and Humber region in Westminster today.
His grand plan is partially a response to ongoing demands from Mr Pickles for local authorities to rein in their spending.
It also comes just weeks after Councillor Shaw floated the idea of cutting the number of elected members on NELC by a third.
He added: "Eric Pickles has always said he wants to hear ideas from local government. Well, here's a prime example. We are always happy to help."
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by Davex66
Sunday, March 17 2013, 8:06PM
“and Axing Cllr Shaw and Labour would save N ELincs in one go too!”
by Davex66
Sunday, March 17 2013, 8:04PM
“and Axing Chris Shaw and Labour would save N E Lincs in one go”
by diggerone
Thursday, March 14 2013, 11:47AM
“By all the noise being made and the silly ideas(pool is the clue) by Cllr Shaw, is he getting in early to try and become the replacement for Austin Mitchell at the next general election ?”
by markus250666
Friday, March 08 2013, 10:44AM
“Chris shaw i could say the same about axeing most of the high ranks at NE£C, that would save us billions more.”
by chez7
Friday, March 08 2013, 2:08AM
“Chris Shaw , What qualifications do you have to be even a counciller? in fact what if any qualifications at all do you have .Lord help us if someone like you had real power .You talk a load of poo poo and the sooner the voters realise this at the next elections the better .You talk like a typical I am better than you idiot who should engage brain before operating mouth .
Ro;ll on the next elections cos you aint getting my vote .”
by Alan-Barratt
Thursday, March 07 2013, 1:34PM
“And this man was on the BBC News last Night Saying Grimsby was open of Business. ?
How on earth will we attract New Businesses to this Town when we have a Local Council Leader that goes on record talking utter tosh such as this.
This man is incapable of instilling any degree of confidence in the area with such comments and the well demonstrated lack of understand of the people, or a willingness to listen.
This Labour Council is getting ever more like a Dictatorship, and it has clearly got very muddled views of what democracy looks like and feels like to the people.
Any large organisation that is likely to Invest in the Grimsby and Immingham area will do their homework, and when they see the calibre and autocratic, dictatorship that is running this Borough they will run a mile.
It is time for a vote of no confidence in Messes Shaw and Burnett, The Labour Group need to have these two dangerous out of touch politicians removed- and fast.
You're damaging our Town, our image and any hope of investment we have, Shaw you're well out of your depth!”
by vikti
Thursday, March 07 2013, 1:02PM
“The only thing I can think of that would be worse than a chamber full of MPs would a chamber full of Chris Shaws!!!!”
by labourladie
Thursday, March 07 2013, 12:47PM
“I think I'll go for GerrySixties and williampink. I basically believe in what both are saying without having to add anything other than local politicians should put the interests of the local people first and foremost before national party politics. Nobody representing a national political party will ever get my vote again in the local elections, whatever spin they attempt to put on it. Local politics is not about fighting battles OFF the Westminster circus arena, it's about LOCAL PEOPLE and our communities. Not Hull, Leeds or London”
by MikeofGY
Thursday, March 07 2013, 8:41AM
“Agree with realworldman here!!! However as we only have an elected council of 2, we need to consider Councillor Shaw's bagman Councillor Burnett. Roll on the elections.
B.T.W. who was the Hobbit lookalike meeting the Duchess in the Telegraph?”
by davendogs
Thursday, March 07 2013, 8:13AM
“That poll is worrying. 57% in favour of getting rid of ALL Mp's. Considering all the fiddles and expenses I'm in favour of slimming the numbers down. The less of them the more they can be scrutinized and kept a eye on. To get rid of all though? Whatever you think of them they provide a fall back, a sort of cushion from letting such as Shaw loose. That is frightening.”