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Old 10-04-2008, 05:57 AM   #9
DanaC
We have to go back, Kate!
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 25,964
*chuckles*

touche :P

The strange thing is, having dipped my toe into that murkiest of pools, I can tell you that most politicians never stop working. Even the long holiday during Summer recess isn't actually a holiday. The House doesn't sit, but they all have constituency offices.

Our local MP routinely works an 80 hour week. The only time she can totally switch off is if she's out of the country for a couple of weeks. yet I constantly see letters in the local rag talking about her as being lazy, typical politician, self-interested, raking in the money and doing nothing for it. She's one of the hardest working people I have ever met, gets well-paid, but isn't wealthy, lives in a very ordinary two bedroomed house and takes two foreign holidays a year.

She's one of the better constituency MPs, but she's not so unusual. I know many MPs who work ridiculous hours.

Public perceptions of the politician's life and the reality for most MPs are two vastly different things.
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