There can be few more obvious signs of the decline of morality in public life than that our representatives do not think it improper to be in the employment of others, or to be paid to represent different interest groups, providing that they declare these interests or write them down in a book. The cosy arrangements by which this warp in behaviour has developed over many years (originating with the financially independent “ruling classes”) has led to much grief but the politicians’ response has been simply to set up their own committees or devise their own rule book to allow these practises to continue in a world where, along with universal suffrage, we must all now pay our way and be accountable.
Yet, this is an absolute rule, fundamental to our core beliefs and highest traditions. You cannot serve two masters at the same time. If politicians are to be answerable to us, they must take no other wage than ours. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to stand for election.