Another perk for your Member of Parliament.

Benjahmin

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 10, 2014
2,460
1,675
69
West Wales
It's amazin' how it goes isn't it?
My wife used to be an Occupational Therapist for social services. It was part of her contract of employment that she had to have a serviceable vehicle for home visits. As she ripped the exhaust off a standard saloon, going down farm and rough tracks, we ended up with a small 4x4 so she could do her job. For this she ended up getting paid the princely sum of 45p/mile - and that was supposed to cover tax, extra insurance required, fuel and wear and tear. It was also seen as taxable income on p.a.y.e. and she, according to HMRC, made a 'profit' on this every year.
Of course, 'We're all in this together'. :mad:
 
  • Disagree
  • Informative
Reactions: Warwick and oyster

MJS_1066

Finding my (electric) wheels
May 24, 2020
23
4

jokskot

Pedelecer
Jul 14, 2018
156
47
75
"We should be lobbying the government to have the same perk. Email you local MP and ask if they can support a similar scheme rolled out for all workers. "

If your employer is signed up to the scheme, all employees are allowed the same benefit. To present the information as if the scheme is exclusive to MPs, the journalist is being very economical with the truth
 

Warwick

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 24, 2015
731
225
Warwick
I have exactly the same 'perk' at my work. My MP - a very good one at that - used his bike for constituency duties and claimed what he was entitled to, only for the Scum/Sun to harangue him for doing so. There's no story here - move on...
 

MJS_1066

Finding my (electric) wheels
May 24, 2020
23
4
I don't really see what your problem is with this - it's just the same scheme as many other workers have access to, and the 20p/mile allowance is what hmrc allows for use of a bike for business.
Don't you think MPs parasite enough money as it is? Two free houses (plus furniture) and £100 a day to spend on grub not enough for them, now they get a subsidised ebike to ride up their mountains of cash with.
 

D C

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 25, 2013
1,140
575
A lot of folk seem to use the cycle to work scheme to help with purchasing a bike but without intending to ever cycling to work. Should that also be a source of annoyance to those who can't take advantage of the scheme but would benefit from a bit of help to buy a bike?
 

Bobajob

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 1, 2019
313
140
Cornwall
"We should be lobbying the government to have the same perk. Email you local MP and ask if they can support a similar scheme rolled out for all workers. "

If your employer is signed up to the scheme, all employees are allowed the same benefit. To present the information as if the scheme is exclusive to MPs, the journalist is being very economical with the truth
ah right so all worker will qualify even the 20p/mile travelling expenses?
 

jokskot

Pedelecer
Jul 14, 2018
156
47
75
ah right so all worker will qualify even the 20p/mile travelling expenses?

If you're using your bike (e or push) on company business and your employer agrees to it, the answer is YES. Travelling from your residence to your normal place of work is not covered by the scheme.
20p per mile is the amount agreed by HMC&E.
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
19,990
8,173
60
West Sx RH
20p a mile ideal for Deliveroo riders or any other delivery riders.
 

Warwick

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 24, 2015
731
225
Warwick
A lot of folk seem to use the cycle to work scheme to help with purchasing a bike but without intending to ever cycling to work. Should that also be a source of annoyance to those who can't take advantage of the scheme but would benefit from a bit of help to buy a bike?
Why? Sounds a bit dog in the manger-ish to me...
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,763
30,349
Do you think that MPs are over or under paid? I think they’re over paid
No, because it's necessary to pay enough to get representation across the social spectrum for what is in reality a rotten anti-social hours job.

I remember long ago when MPs got only £2000 a year, even less than me in a lowly job, so as a result almost all the MPs were people from privileged and wealthy backgrounds. That left the vast majority of us unrepresented, other than by MPs who had no idea what ordinary life was like for most.
.
 

Woosh

Trade Member
May 19, 2012
19,407
16,387
Southend on Sea
wooshbikes.co.uk
they still pay themselves too much.
Half of them receive extra money for being in the front bench.
Then they don't have to go to work if they are busy elsewhere.
Still, compared to the lords, they look OK.
Covid shows up inequality in a different light.
The wife of one of my colleagues works for a local manufacturing company.
Because of Covid, they have to divide their workforce into two shifts instead of normal hours. She has to get up at 4AM, walks to the main bus station because at that time of the day, that's the only place where she can catch a bus to her work place. Imagine 1 extra hour walking and queueing every day for no extra money.
Her son works for a care home. Again, extra time spent every day/night on ppe to go in and out without extra pay.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Bobajob

RossG

Esteemed Pedelecer
Feb 12, 2019
1,628
1,646
It's not about the wages they get, in the overall scheme of things that doesn't really matter as we all know already they don't earn a fraction of the salary pop stars or footballers get. It's the perks that go with the job and how those privileges are abused that concerns me. I used to know one MP (now disgraced and booted out) who would drive into our local petrol station and fill up his 4X4 with fuel every chance he got. Don't tell me that cost came out of his own pocket.
 
  • Agree
  • Like
Reactions: Muddyfox and flecc

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
52,763
30,349
and the relevance of posts 14,16 and 17 to e-bikes?
Probably resentment.

Large numbers of UK pedelecers are angry at the ban on independent throttles and a fair proportion don't see why they should be limited to 15.5 mph assist speed.

So they cast their representatives as the villains responsible, even though they aren't in fact.
.
 

Warwick

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 24, 2015
731
225
Warwick
I blame Bosch...
 
  • Agree
Reactions: POLLY