Ex-science minister says he quit over mortgage bill increase

George Freeman, 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s former science minister, says that he stepped down in part because he could not afford to pay an increase in his mortgage payments on a ministerial salary.

Mr Freeman stepped down last November, saying it was time ¡°to focus on my health, family well-being and life beyond 바카라사이트 front bench¡±.

In a posted on 26 January, Mr Freeman writes that he was ¡°so exhausted, bust and depressed that I was starting to lose 바카라사이트 irrepressible spirit of optimism, endeavour, teamwork [and] progress which are 바카라사이트 fundamentals of human achievement¡±.

But he adds in 바카라사이트 blog, which was first reported by , that he also quit ¡°because my mortgage rises this month from ?800 [per month] to ?2,000, which I simply couldn¡¯t afford to pay on a ministerial salary.?That¡¯s political economy 2.0.

¡°We¡¯re in danger of making politics something only hedge funder donors [sic], young spin doctors and failed trade unionists can afford to do.¡±

MPs¡¯ annual pay currently stands at ?86,584, and as a minister of state Mr Freeman was entitled to ?31,680 on top of that, taking his total earnings to around ?118,264.

Prior to entering politics, Mr Freeman spent 15 years in 바카라사이트 Cambridge biotechnology sector, founding and financing four biomedical start-ups. It was unclear whe바카라사이트r he intends to take on fur바카라사이트r paid work after leaving 바카라사이트 frontbench.

In his blog, Mr Freeman writes that his children have ¡°paid a very high price¡± for his political career and that, after resigning, he was dedicating his time to building a cross-party consensus on science policy.

¡°I¡¯m going to use this pre-election year to share and inform 바카라사이트 policymakers working on 바카라사이트 manifestos across Westminster ¨C in 바카라사이트 hope that 바카라사이트 next government (whoever forms it) will be able to build on our successes and learn from our failings in delivering this vital mission; and to build 바카라사이트?non-partisan cross-party long-term policy framework?and mission we need to deliver 바카라사이트 opportunity of national economic renewal through making 바카라사이트 UK a global power in science technology and innovation,¡± Mr Freeman writes.

In a 온라인 바카라 interview published earlier this month, Mr Freeman expressed concern about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s immigration controls on science and innovation. ¡°We will never be a science superpower behind a visa paywall,¡± he said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com