Candidate in potential Lanarkshire by-election throws down salary challenge to others

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A would-be MP chosen by his party to stand in a potential by-election in Lanarkshire has issued a public challenge for any eventual winner to live on the average worker’s wage.The by-election could be triggered in the Rutherglen & Hamilton West seat following the recall petition in the constituency after Margaret Ferrier was suspended for 30 days from the House of Commons for breaking Covid rules.MPs are currently on a basic salary of £86,584, which is almost three times the average worker’s wage in Scotland.Bill Bonnar, the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) candidate has pledged to become “a socialist MP on a worker’s wage” of around £30,000 if a by-election were to happen in the future and he was elected, and is urging other potential candidates to do likewise.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android The remainder would go to the party with a portion of it being used to help a number of community groups and initiatives.The SSP member has taken a swipe at the Conservatives and is calling on potential Labour and SNP candidates to match his pledge, if elected as the area’s MP.Former Tory chancellor Sajid Javid called for MPs’ salaries to be doubled to £173,000, because in his words “you get what you pay for”.Bonnar said: “This is outrageous, even by the low standards of the Tories.