Moving straight from college, they would be motivated primarily by career ambitions and that these ambitions would supplant the priorities of representation which may entail dedicated, behind - the - scenes, unpopular or time-consuming work.
The argument against the sole dependence on parliamentary income, if it ever has been valid, has to be seen as arrogant and bogus and reminiscent of the "shamateurism" arguments which bedevilled international sport through the greater part of the 20th century. Leaving aside the impugning of the integrity of other professionals implied in the argument (and ignoring the processes of selection and election), the emoluments of Members of Parliament from their parliamentary income are somewhat higher than that enjoyed by the average wage-earner and certainly enough to live on. Furthermore MP's evidence no reluctance to continue their term in office election after election and there can be little doubt that they are, in reality, in pursuit of a career in politics. Further evidence of this career status is seen by the clamour at election time and no shortage of candidates keen to take on the job.
Although it may have been true at one time that an M.P. might adequately have performed his or her duties on a part-time basis, this can no longer be argued to be the case. A good M.P. works long and hard in both parliamentary and constituency activities. However in an age of job flexibility, the widening need for adaptability, and with the breaking down of demarcations between paid occupations, the MPs' claim to some special status becomes less and less tenable. We all know it is a job of work - it is time the MPs acknowledged this themselves.
2) The vested interest argument depends upon the assumption that those representing you should have no other interests which may conflict with your own or which may give benefit or disadvantage to your representative acting on your behalf. This is such a fundamental principle that it is surprising that the element of material reward - the most obvious manifestation of conflict - has not hitherto been addressed. The "registering" of interests in a book appears to be just the sort of machination that arises when those who gain by such devices are allowed to monitor their own affairs. Few MPs, never mind constituents, can be familiar with every detail of such complex records and the "grey areas" must be
legion. This problem, with the mistrust and contempt it engenders, altogether disappears with the No Other Wage concept.