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MPs' pay rise 2014: Party leaders unite against Ipsa's 10 per cent recommendation | MPs' pay rise 2014: Party leaders unite against Ipsa's 10 per cent recommendation |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Plans to give MPs a ten per cent pay rise next year, taking their salaries to £74,000, tonight sparked a cross-party chorus of condemnation. | Plans to give MPs a ten per cent pay rise next year, taking their salaries to £74,000, tonight sparked a cross-party chorus of condemnation. |
Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders attacked the proposals and suggested they could be blocked after the general election in May 2015. | Tory, Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders attacked the proposals and suggested they could be blocked after the general election in May 2015. |
The row over MPs’ incomes was revived when the Commons watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), reiterated its determination to implement the controversial rise. | The row over MPs’ incomes was revived when the Commons watchdog, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa), reiterated its determination to implement the controversial rise. |
Its new chief executive, Marcial Boo, argued that the economy was recovering and that politicians should not be paid a “miserly amount”. | Its new chief executive, Marcial Boo, argued that the economy was recovering and that politicians should not be paid a “miserly amount”. |
He said backbenchers deserved a sharp rise on their £67,000 pay packets because they lagged behind comparable private sector professionals, as well as their foreign counterparts. | He said backbenchers deserved a sharp rise on their £67,000 pay packets because they lagged behind comparable private sector professionals, as well as their foreign counterparts. |
“All the evidence points towards MPs, salaries having fallen behind,” Mr Boo said. Marcial Boo argued that the economy was recovering and that politicians should not be paid a 'miserly amount' | |
He said some people viewed a salary as at the “low end” and warned that failure to pay “fair” incomes would deter good candidates for standing for Parliament. | He said some people viewed a salary as at the “low end” and warned that failure to pay “fair” incomes would deter good candidates for standing for Parliament. |
MPs are currently paid £67,060, which will rise by one per cent to £67,731 next April. Under Ipsa’s plans that would leap to £74,000 for MPs elected at the general election in the following month. | MPs are currently paid £67,060, which will rise by one per cent to £67,731 next April. Under Ipsa’s plans that would leap to £74,000 for MPs elected at the general election in the following month. |
The watchdog is legally required to review the recommendation at that point, but Mr Boo made plain it would remain committed to its recommendation. | The watchdog is legally required to review the recommendation at that point, but Mr Boo made plain it would remain committed to its recommendation. |
The only option for politicians to block their own rise would be to take a vote to abolish the watchdog. That move could pitch political leaders, many of whom come from wealthy backgrounds, against backbench MPs who believe they are under-paid. | The only option for politicians to block their own rise would be to take a vote to abolish the watchdog. That move could pitch political leaders, many of whom come from wealthy backgrounds, against backbench MPs who believe they are under-paid. |
George Osborne, the Chancellor, today said he would back moves to veto the increase. | George Osborne, the Chancellor, today said he would back moves to veto the increase. |
He said: “I don’t think it is acceptable at a time when there is continuing pay restraint in the public sector that MPs would receive such a big increase. | He said: “I don’t think it is acceptable at a time when there is continuing pay restraint in the public sector that MPs would receive such a big increase. |
“But this is not the final verdict, this is not the final report. There will be a report after the election and that’s when we are going to have to tackle this issue.” | “But this is not the final verdict, this is not the final report. There will be a report after the election and that’s when we are going to have to tackle this issue.” |
A spokesman for the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: “A ten per cent rise would be unacceptable when we are still making significant savings in public expenditure and asking the public to exercise wage restraint.” | A spokesman for the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: “A ten per cent rise would be unacceptable when we are still making significant savings in public expenditure and asking the public to exercise wage restraint.” |
A Labour spokesman said such a rise could not go ahead when “people are going through the biggest cost-of-living crisis for a generation”. | A Labour spokesman said such a rise could not go ahead when “people are going through the biggest cost-of-living crisis for a generation”. |
He said: “We cannot have an outcome for MPs which does not command public confidence. | He said: “We cannot have an outcome for MPs which does not command public confidence. |
“Therefore we are asking the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats for a cross-party approach which recognises the current economic circumstances where workers in the public and private sectors are going through such difficult times.” | “Therefore we are asking the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats for a cross-party approach which recognises the current economic circumstances where workers in the public and private sectors are going through such difficult times.” |
John O’Connell, the director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “In insisting on a pay rise, Ipsa is demonstrating itself once again to be totally unfit for purpose. This overgrown monster of a quango needs to understand that the public don't want the cost of government to go up any further.” | John O’Connell, the director of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “In insisting on a pay rise, Ipsa is demonstrating itself once again to be totally unfit for purpose. This overgrown monster of a quango needs to understand that the public don't want the cost of government to go up any further.” |
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