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MPs' 11% pay rise plan unveiled by salaries watchdog | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The body which sets MPs' salaries has confirmed that it plans to give them an 11% pay rise, claiming this will not cost the taxpayer "a penny more" once other changes are taken into account. | |
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) wants to raise salaries by £7,600 to £74,000 in 2015. | |
David Cameron calls it "inappropriate" while Ed Miliband requested talks between the party leaders and Ipsa. | |
But Ipsa said public opinion was "more nuanced" than the "outrage" suggested. | |
The proposed package, to take effect in 2015, will include a "one-off" pay rise after which MPs' pay would be linked to average earnings. | The proposed package, to take effect in 2015, will include a "one-off" pay rise after which MPs' pay would be linked to average earnings. |
Ipsa will also outline plans to reform MPs' pensions, scrapping the "outdated resettlement payments worth tens of thousands", as well as "tightening up" expenses rules. | Ipsa will also outline plans to reform MPs' pensions, scrapping the "outdated resettlement payments worth tens of thousands", as well as "tightening up" expenses rules. |
The package will call on MPs to produce an "annual account of their work to help their constituents understand what it is MPs actually do". | The package will call on MPs to produce an "annual account of their work to help their constituents understand what it is MPs actually do". |
Ipsa chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said: "We are sweeping away the out-of-date and overly generous benefits, and introducing a one-off uplift in pay. Crucially, thereafter MPs' pay will be linked to everyone else's. | |
"We have designed these reforms so they do not cost the taxpayer a penny more. When taken with the tens of millions we have saved by reforming the business cost and expenses regime, we have saved the taxpayer over £35m with the changes we have introduced since 2010." | |
Andrew McDonald, Ipsa's chief executive, said a two-year consultation had found the public was "split down the middle" on its plan - which it said would not cost "a penny more" than current arrangements. | Andrew McDonald, Ipsa's chief executive, said a two-year consultation had found the public was "split down the middle" on its plan - which it said would not cost "a penny more" than current arrangements. |
"This shows us something important: this is an issue where the public has a more nuanced, and split, opinion than the reactive howls of 'outrage' from some commentators and politicians," he said. | "This shows us something important: this is an issue where the public has a more nuanced, and split, opinion than the reactive howls of 'outrage' from some commentators and politicians," he said. |
He said the message that costs would not increase had been lost in the "hubbub of the last few days". | He said the message that costs would not increase had been lost in the "hubbub of the last few days". |
Once it is heard, he said, he hoped commentators would "pause before making sweeping assumptions about what the public think without asking them". | Once it is heard, he said, he hoped commentators would "pause before making sweeping assumptions about what the public think without asking them". |
'Build public confidence' | 'Build public confidence' |
On Wednesday Mr Cameron said: "I think it would be wrong for MPs to get a big pay rise at a time of public sector pay restraint." | On Wednesday Mr Cameron said: "I think it would be wrong for MPs to get a big pay rise at a time of public sector pay restraint." |
Ipsa does not need Parliament's agreement to make the changes. | Ipsa does not need Parliament's agreement to make the changes. |
But the prime minister said that - while "no one wants to go back to MPs voting on their own pay" - there must be an "outcome that can build public confidence". | But the prime minister said that - while "no one wants to go back to MPs voting on their own pay" - there must be an "outcome that can build public confidence". |
Labour leader Mr Miliband opposed the rise and said the three main parties must "get together to deal with this". | Labour leader Mr Miliband opposed the rise and said the three main parties must "get together to deal with this". |
Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has said the pay rise would be "wholly inappropriate". | Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has said the pay rise would be "wholly inappropriate". |
Earlier Ipsa chairman Sir Ian had written in an article for the Times newspaper: "I can see why some would want to wish the issue away, hoping that a 'cross-party' review will provide the cover for kicking it into the long grass, just as happened with party funding years ago. | |
"There is a tension between the reasoning and the politics but we were asked to fix the problem for a generation, not for a news cycle. That is what we have done. | "There is a tension between the reasoning and the politics but we were asked to fix the problem for a generation, not for a news cycle. That is what we have done. |
"The alternative approach takes us back to the days of political deals, with scandal never far away." | "The alternative approach takes us back to the days of political deals, with scandal never far away." |