In reply to off-duty:
> Much as I'm not a fan of politicians - I'm not a fan of the suggestion that the only motivating factor and the only means of attracting "high performers" is money.
No, but MP careers are potentially short, through no fault of the individual, as party leader popularity has an impact. I bet many competent Labour MPs lost their seat when Corbyn was leader. That's why it attracts those with second or alternate incomes.
Many senior mps are like project managers, but if they were managing the scale of projects they are privately they'd be paid more. The job doesn't always attract talent, it just attracts those who might be well meaning or ideological.
If you are motivated, have a philanthropic mind set, could you achieve more working a business ethically like say Timpsons, or do you sacrifice all privacy and home life becoming an MP.