Well, Iains, there are far better targets for you bile than MPs when it comes to pay. Let's take the bankers, for example, who wrecked this economy a few years ago despite taking home multi-millions in bonuses which, oddly, don't seem to have dried up. The damage ran to hundreds of billions. The expenses scandal cost us a million and a bit, very wrong of course, but let's keep a bit of perspective, shall we? Many a doctor, dentist and headteacher gets paid more than an MP, not to speak of telly celebrities, company bosses and those bankers. And an MP could be out on his ear after five years, lest we forget, no notice, no redundancy, no warning. Still, that is hardly the point of the attack from you and Teribus, which questions my comment that MPs are more qualified to make major policy decisions than the millions of ordinary people.

Almost all MPs are members of political parties, each of which has its own distinctive policies. I expect my MP to understand those policies and to be able to argue for them. I also expect my MP to be fully au fait with the workings of government and the implications of government policies and strategies. When they are first elected they will be on a steep learning curve which will come on top of the political work they have done in their pre-candidate life. That's their job. Members of the public do not have any of these obligations. MPs are, therefore, far more qualified than the general public to make decisions predicated on in-depth understanding of the issues at stake. I really don't know why I have to explain this to you.

Of course, if you're one of the "all these politicians are the bleedin' same and we should get rid of the lot of 'em" brigade, all this will go straight over your head. The worrying thing in that circumstance is that you have the vote.