Reform MP faces backlash for giving away salary

27 comments

1. Labour-supporting FT tries to deflect Reform’s criticism of Starmer. Bizarre that Lowe is being attacked because he’s rich and said he doesn’t need his salary so he’s giving it to charity. He never said ‘ordinary’ MPs without wealth should do the same. He did point out that there are other MPs equally rich who take the salary and all the expenses / gifts they can get their hands on though.

2. The backlash mainly seems to be other MPs complaining that Lowe is making them look bad.

3. > He said that criticism of his donations were “pretty petty”, adding: “A decent percentage of MPs are equally as well off as me. Keir Starmer is pretty rich but he still lets people buy his clothes and glasses.”

   It is extremely petty to criticise Lowe for this and he is correct here. It is disingenuous to present Lowe as some lone millionaire who has somehow snuck into politics when we are all aware of the extent to which the profession of MP is becoming the domain of the wealthy.

   I disagree completely with his politics, but in this respect he is doing good for his local community and more wealthy MPs should follow his lead.

4. This sub: “OMG he is a millionaire he shouldn’t be paid a salary!”

   Lowe: “I’m donating it all to charity”

   This sub: “OMG he’s using it to buy the working class vote!”

   Let’s face it: he’s a Reform MP and you don’t like that, so nothing he does will satisfy you. Even if he wrote up policies which quite literally agree with everything you want to see in society, you still would criticise at every opportunity. The reality is, you enjoy having an enemy because it gives you somebody to blame for your problems and that makes you feel better.

5. You can disagree with his politics, but you are performing some very lefty mental gymnastics to criticise his donating his salary to charity.

6. Was he donating £5k a month before he was being given £5k a month by the state?

7. Absolutely disagree with his political stances, but I don’t disagree with what he’s doing here.

8. I’m vehemently against his politics and his previous choice of football team investments (still not over Southampton beating Leeds in the play off final…), but it’s hilarious to me that anyone can possibly try and construe this as being in any way negative.

   Why shouldn’t he be able to donate his money to local causes if he can? Nobody expects all other MPs to be capable of doing the same and anyone who says otherwise is just being performative.

   I despise nearly all of the Reform rhetoric but blind party loyalty doesn’t do anyone any good. The guy’s doing a decent thing with money he knows he doesn’t need, good for him.

9. From a quick look, it seems that it’s MPs from other parties who are complaining.

   I wonder why MPs from other parties are complaining that an MP from a minor party, who happens to be wealthy, is donating money to his local charities?

   Is it possible that they’re upset that it makes them look greedy and self entitled ?

10. I don’t see the issue here? If he can afford to donate part of this salary to charity then good for him, I don’t think it really pressures other MPs to do the same and let’s be honest, if he didn’t donate money he’d probably get attacked for another angle for taking the salary while being rich. I really dislike reform but this is nonsense

11. Well if you don’t have well paid public servants you know they will resort to corruption

12. eh, bit of an own goal to draw attention to this isn’t it?

    I think usual rules should apply for politicians and making sure that their tax payer salaries aren’t being used for any nefarious favours.

    Giving to local good causes is fine, Nadia Whittome gave hers away, just don’t get too distracted for the fact its charity, but more that they aren’t trying to gain advantage from it anywhere for political purposes.

13. I have no issue with him donating to charity in general, however I do feel that publicly announcing the projects and attaching his name to it is reasonably shady.
    Imagine if a millionaire prospective MP decided to donate some of his wealth to local residents.
    At what point does it pass the point and become bribery.

    Ideally he should have donated the money into some sort of blind trust to donate the money to various charities without his direct influence or attaching his name to it.

14. Honestly, it’s ludicrous anyone on a £90k+ salary is looking for freebies. And that a PM is doing so either.

    No one expects MPs to donate part of their salaries just cause someone else does, but it’d be nice if they didn’t abuse expenses.

15. Seems to be pretty desperate to slander a Reform MP, of a Labour MP gave away their salary they’d be celebrated.

    Meanwhile there some on here who condone Starmer accepting freebies, corruption is fine for some as long as the politician wears red.

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17. It’s actually mental that people here are using the fact that his donations are public as a stick to beat this guy with just because he’s from a certain political party. I personally think it’s a bit uncouth to publicise your charitable donations, but come on. That’s such a minor gripe compared to the good that can come from this money. Why can’t we just accept that people are neither universally bad nor universally good, without having to resort to gymnastics to keep our dogma intact?

    It wouldn’t surprise me if there are plenty of people who put rainbows and Ukraine flags on their profiles without actually giving a single penny, then have the gall to suggest that this guy is virtue signalling. Shut the fuck up.

18. I’d rather a millionaire MP kept their salary and paid proper taxes. How much tax does he pay on his millions?

19. Would the problem be solved if he donated to charities outside his constituency?

20. Keri Starmer, is now caught up in another expenses scandal while a *Reform* MP is donating money to local causes.

    Ngl I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the back.

    I don’t trust Reform as far as I can throw them, and it doesn’t sound like he’s donated any of the money yet. So I am sincerely hoping his constituents hold him to it and get to do some stuff.

21. Sure, criticise Reform for a lot of things but a MP giving his salary away? What the fuck?! At least, he isn’t hoarding it when he doesn’t need it and rather see someone else have it. Most MPs would happily keep their salary and accept donations.

22. Other parties: “Hey let’s all join up against a politician for doing good for his community because he makes us look bad for doing nothing”

23. Wasn’t this level of bloviating when Nadia Whittome gave away half of her salary. Weird huh.

24. Pretty awful take.

    We want successful people as MPs, not exclusively, but those with genuine experience and life skills are definitely important.

    It’s likely that some of those successful people may be rich.

    To then slate them for donating the money they don’t need? Fucking appalling.

    People are so stupid these days, next they’d want to crucify bankers for donating their bonuses and billionaires from building hospitals or whatever.

    Take the win!

25. You can’t win with these people! He’s their on principle and principle alone!

26. If we want to reduce the number of wealthy MP’s, we should increase the wages and benefits for MP’s to make the position more attractive, and viable, for candidates who aren’t rich. If we reduce it we are only encouraging people who are already wealthy to become MP’s, which is not a good thing.

27. >Lowe, who owns a home in the Cotswolds and has investments in at least 19 companies across a range of sectors, told the Financial Times: “It’s a personal choice. Certain Labour MPs are richer than me and still don’t do it. **I think being an MP should be a vocation, not a gravy train**.”

    Might want to have a word with his boss (Nigel Farage) about that then.