According to analysis of the expenses claims of MPs in the UK, 25% of them have given jobs to relatives.
(Figures from the IPSA (Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) show that 155 MPs – nearly one in four – have wives, children and even parents on the public payroll.
Their relatives (aka “connected parties”) enjoy salaries as high as £50,000 for office duties.
This is the perfect opportunity for me to introduce a new bit of vocabulary:-
nepotismnoun
the practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.
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!Note
There is an online map where people can look at how much their MP is costing them, which is nice, but most people don't even know about it.