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| Prominent MPs vow to reject any large pay rise proposals | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Some MPs are expected to reject a generous pay rise if it is recommended by the independent review due shortly. | Some MPs are expected to reject a generous pay rise if it is recommended by the independent review due shortly. |
| The Labour chair of the home affairs select committee, Keith Vaz, said: "The last thing MPs should be talking about is their own pay rise." | The Labour chair of the home affairs select committee, Keith Vaz, said: "The last thing MPs should be talking about is their own pay rise." |
| Tim Loughton, the former Tory education minister, also said he would reject a large increase, saying: "It would be completely inappropriate for us to accept it at the moment." | Tim Loughton, the former Tory education minister, also said he would reject a large increase, saying: "It would be completely inappropriate for us to accept it at the moment." |
| Labour sources said any pay rise had to be in line with the level of increases in the public sector generally – a rise that is currently running at around 1%. | Labour sources said any pay rise had to be in line with the level of increases in the public sector generally – a rise that is currently running at around 1%. |
| The Liberal Democrat minister Jo Swinson added: "I have no problems whatsoever with my pay at the moment." | The Liberal Democrat minister Jo Swinson added: "I have no problems whatsoever with my pay at the moment." |
| The cross-party public consensus may yet be challenged by MPs that privately want an increase, but it is likely they will relent if they find themselves pursued to explain to their constituents whether they have taken an increase. | The cross-party public consensus may yet be challenged by MPs that privately want an increase, but it is likely they will relent if they find themselves pursued to explain to their constituents whether they have taken an increase. |
| Some MPs will be deeply frustrated since they had hoped the transfer of their pay awards to an independent body would free them from the invidious decision on whether to vote through a pay rise. | Some MPs will be deeply frustrated since they had hoped the transfer of their pay awards to an independent body would free them from the invidious decision on whether to vote through a pay rise. |
| The Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, said it would be for the next parliament to decide on the recommendations from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) but that the Tory manifesto would "more than likely say that in the next parliament the costs of politics should fall". | The Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps, said it would be for the next parliament to decide on the recommendations from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) but that the Tory manifesto would "more than likely say that in the next parliament the costs of politics should fall". |
| He repeatedly declined to say whether he would personally refuse a large rise, telling BBC News: "I am clear that in times of austerity everybody should be a part of that, and I am also clear, on behalf of the Conservative party, that in the next parliament – and these recommendations which have not even come out yet are about the next parliament in 2015 – that we would not want to see the cost of politics rise. | He repeatedly declined to say whether he would personally refuse a large rise, telling BBC News: "I am clear that in times of austerity everybody should be a part of that, and I am also clear, on behalf of the Conservative party, that in the next parliament – and these recommendations which have not even come out yet are about the next parliament in 2015 – that we would not want to see the cost of politics rise. |
| "I do not think that the country needs … more cost to running parliament and the Conservative party will go into the next election with a firm pledge to do something about that." | "I do not think that the country needs … more cost to running parliament and the Conservative party will go into the next election with a firm pledge to do something about that." |
| David Cameron is prepared to sanction a modest pay rise for MPs on condition that they forfeit other perks to ensure the overall costs of Westminster are cut. | David Cameron is prepared to sanction a modest pay rise for MPs on condition that they forfeit other perks to ensure the overall costs of Westminster are cut. |
| As Ed Miliband indicated that he would reverse an expected £10,000 pay rise for MPs if elected prime minister, Cameron said it would be unthinkable if the overall costs of Westminster were not frozen or even cut. | As Ed Miliband indicated that he would reverse an expected £10,000 pay rise for MPs if elected prime minister, Cameron said it would be unthinkable if the overall costs of Westminster were not frozen or even cut. |
| But in the face of intense lobbying by Tory MPs for Downing Street to allow them to receive a pay rise, the prime minister stopped short of ruling out a rise in their salaries. | But in the face of intense lobbying by Tory MPs for Downing Street to allow them to receive a pay rise, the prime minister stopped short of ruling out a rise in their salaries. |
| The Mail on Sunday reported that the Labour leader would be prepared to intervene amid reports that Ipsa is planning to recommend a pay rise for MPs as high as £10,000. Miliband said MPs should receive no more than a 1% rise (£660) to keep them in line with public sector workers. | The Mail on Sunday reported that the Labour leader would be prepared to intervene amid reports that Ipsa is planning to recommend a pay rise for MPs as high as £10,000. Miliband said MPs should receive no more than a 1% rise (£660) to keep them in line with public sector workers. |
| The prime minister adopted a more cautious approach. Speaking in Islamabad at the weekend before flying to Kazakhstan, he said: "Our views – Ipsa asked our views and we gave our views – were very much reflecting the current pay restraint. But Ipsa is independent, it has to make its recommendation. I don't see any sense on commenting on its recommendation until we know what it is. I have no idea." | The prime minister adopted a more cautious approach. Speaking in Islamabad at the weekend before flying to Kazakhstan, he said: "Our views – Ipsa asked our views and we gave our views – were very much reflecting the current pay restraint. But Ipsa is independent, it has to make its recommendation. I don't see any sense on commenting on its recommendation until we know what it is. I have no idea." |
| The prime minister indicated that if Ipsa does recommend a pay rise, MPs might have to lose other benefits. This could mean cuts in their pensions. | The prime minister indicated that if Ipsa does recommend a pay rise, MPs might have to lose other benefits. This could mean cuts in their pensions. |
| Cameron said: "Whatever Ipsa recommends we can't see the cost of politics or Westminster going up. We should see the cost of Westminster go down. I famously had a plan for reducing the House of Commons, which was nearly there … Anything would be unthinkable unless the cost of politics was frozen and cut, so I'll wait and see what Ipsa have to say. What I said to Ipsa was that restraint is necessary." | Cameron said: "Whatever Ipsa recommends we can't see the cost of politics or Westminster going up. We should see the cost of Westminster go down. I famously had a plan for reducing the House of Commons, which was nearly there … Anything would be unthinkable unless the cost of politics was frozen and cut, so I'll wait and see what Ipsa have to say. What I said to Ipsa was that restraint is necessary." |
| There was confusion over the government's position when Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, said the government was powerless to challenge decisions by Ipsa. Maude told the Murnaghan programme on Sky News: "It's not in my control, it's in the control of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. It isn't even in the control of MPs themselves. What we do control, which is ministers' pay, we are controlling rigorously and we are controlling and we are cutting back on the cost of running the government." | There was confusion over the government's position when Francis Maude, the Cabinet Office minister, said the government was powerless to challenge decisions by Ipsa. Maude told the Murnaghan programme on Sky News: "It's not in my control, it's in the control of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority. It isn't even in the control of MPs themselves. What we do control, which is ministers' pay, we are controlling rigorously and we are controlling and we are cutting back on the cost of running the government." |