The former UK science minister George Freeman has warned that politics is fast becoming an unaffordable career, and he was forced to quit his job in government owing to a surge in the cost of his mortgage
Freeman, who resigned last November during a reshuffle by prime minister Rishi Sunak, said in a Substack blog he could not afford his mortgage going up to £2,000 a month on his previous ministerial salary of £118,300.
The MP for Mid Norfolk explained his rationale for resigning: “Because my mortgage rises this month from £800 [per calendar month] to £2,000, which I simply couldn’t afford to pay on a ministerial salary. That’s political economy 2.0.”
Backbench MPs are paid £86,584 a year but, unlike ministers, they can make extra money from outside interests.
“We’re in danger of making politics something only hedge fund donors, young spin-doctors and failed trade unionists can afford to Do,” said Freeman.
The MP told The New Statesman on Monday that his finances had been negatively affected by “a very painful divorce”.
Freeman, who has a majority of 22,594 from the 2019 election, has not yet clarified whether he will seek re-election.
Can’t afford his mortgage, yet these muppets think they can run the economy.
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I’m not convinced any politician can… I don’t like Labour, Lib Dem are basically a wasted vote, same as Green, which kinda leaves Tory as my only option, but I’m not exactly confident in them either…
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Well I am giving my vote to REFORM UK.
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Who? I haven’t heard of them…
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The nail in the coffin for me with our MP was during the expenses brouhaha, he was quoted in the press with the tone-deaf and entitled ” At my time of life, I’m not about to take a pay cut ”
Well, you smug git, jog on then Grrrr.
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He earns 3x what my husband and I do combined… Live within your means dude, sell your house and downsize. Stop having avocado toast and Starbuck coffee.
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REFORM for me too…Tories have all but killed the buy to let market and Labour would finish it off once and for all…
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So basic maths: £118,300 after tax is £74,757 less £24,000 for his mortgage still leaves a disposable income of £50,757… and that isn’t enough to live off?
The average salary in Mid Norfolk is £26,500… so his disposable income is double the annual income of someone from his constituency. The entitlement of these politicians is shocking.
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