Britain | Bagehot

British politics needs more money

Why bag-carriers, wonks and MPs deserve a pay rise

At times it feels as if Westminster is awash with cash. Boris Johnson, the former prime minister, recorded the biggest single donation in British political history, when a crypto mogul handed over £1m ($1.2m). Moonlighting mps have earned a collective £17m from second jobs since the last election. According to a handy new database put together by Sky News, a broadcaster, and Tortoise Media, a news firm, over £180m has flowed into Westminster since 2019, triggering a week of chatter about the unhealthy effects of Mammon on politics.

This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Mo’ money, fewer problems”

From the January 21st 2023 edition

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