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Brown 'willing to take pay cut' Brown 'willing to take pay cut'
(about 3 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he would be willing to take a salary cut if MPs agreed this was the right thing to do during the recession.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he would be willing to take a salary cut if MPs agreed this was the right thing to do during the recession.
Speaking to BBC Radio 1 Xtra, he said those who earned most "should be asked" to contribute most to improving the state of the UK's public finances.Speaking to BBC Radio 1 Xtra, he said those who earned most "should be asked" to contribute most to improving the state of the UK's public finances.
Mr Brown earns £194,250 a year, which includes £64,766 for being an MP.Mr Brown earns £194,250 a year, which includes £64,766 for being an MP.
He did not say how much of a cut he would accept, adding that there had to be agreement among politicians. He did not say how much of a reduction he would accept, but added he was "not in this job for the money".
Questioned by young unemployed people for 1 Xtra, Mr Brown said: "I'd be prepared to take a pay cut." Mr Brown returned from his holiday this week and the cabinet is holding its first meeting since the summer recess at the 2012 Olympics site in Stratford, east London.
He added: "If there was an agreement that we could all do it, I'd be very much wanting to be part of that." The prime minister was appearing earlier in front of an audience of young unemployed people who are taking part in a BBC training scheme.
'Could all do it'
Fabian Facey, 21, from Manchester, asked Mr Brown if he would accept a reduced salary along with other politicians and business leaders if the money was used to help people who are out of work.
Mr Facey explained that his mother had lost her job as an office worker and his father had been made redundant from a factory job.
Mr Brown said: "I'd be prepared to take a pay cut."
He added: "I am not worried about pay myself. If there was an agreement that we could all do it, I'd be very much wanting to be part of that. But I'm not in this job for the money."
MPs received a 2.33% pay increase earlier this year, but Mr Brown brought in a freeze on ministerial salaries, saying it was the "right thing to do" during a time of economic hardship for many.MPs received a 2.33% pay increase earlier this year, but Mr Brown brought in a freeze on ministerial salaries, saying it was the "right thing to do" during a time of economic hardship for many.
He also said ministers would not take up the rise awarded to MPs. He also said ministers would not take up the rise awarded to MPs.'
The Conservative and Liberal Democrat said they would apply this restraint to themselves.The Conservative and Liberal Democrat said they would apply this restraint to themselves.
Mr Brown said: "We've frozen our pay but I think the most important thing is you make a decision as a society and that's why we've had to raise taxes for people who are very wealthy."Mr Brown said: "We've frozen our pay but I think the most important thing is you make a decision as a society and that's why we've had to raise taxes for people who are very wealthy."
After the session, Christopher Samuels, 24, from Borough, south-east London, said: "It's obviously stressful running the country. I thought he looked a lot more relaxed and younger than when you see him standing up on the podium."