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Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has issued an apology after claiming he was being forced to watch the pennies on his £100,000-a-year salary Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood apologises after claiming he was being forced to watch the pennies on his £100,000-a-year salary
(about 14 hours later)
A Tory MP has issued a grovelling apology to constituents after claiming he was being forced to watch the pennies on his £100,000-a-year salary.A Tory MP has issued a grovelling apology to constituents after claiming he was being forced to watch the pennies on his £100,000-a-year salary.
The comments by Tobias Ellwood were made in a letter to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and made public this week.The comments by Tobias Ellwood were made in a letter to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) and made public this week.
It followed Ipsa's ruling to approve a 10 per cent pay rise for members of the House of Commons.It followed Ipsa's ruling to approve a 10 per cent pay rise for members of the House of Commons.
In the letter, he wrote: "I know I speak for the silent majority (who are not millionaires) to say this increase is well overdue.In the letter, he wrote: "I know I speak for the silent majority (who are not millionaires) to say this increase is well overdue.
"I never expected to be watching the pennies at my age and yet this is what I now have to do.""I never expected to be watching the pennies at my age and yet this is what I now have to do."
It is understood Ellwood, a minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who wrote in favour of the pay rise, was not aware his letter would eventually be made public.It is understood Ellwood, a minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who wrote in favour of the pay rise, was not aware his letter would eventually be made public.
In the statement, published on his official Facebook page, Mr Ellwood said he recognised the comments in his "confidential submission" were "inappropriate and insensitive,” amounting to an "error of judgment" on his part.In the statement, published on his official Facebook page, Mr Ellwood said he recognised the comments in his "confidential submission" were "inappropriate and insensitive,” amounting to an "error of judgment" on his part.
"Constituents' comments have been a stark personal reminder of the challenges everyone is facing and I am the wiser for it," he wrote on the page, which has a total of 273 likes."Constituents' comments have been a stark personal reminder of the challenges everyone is facing and I am the wiser for it," he wrote on the page, which has a total of 273 likes.
"I apologise for the offence I've caused," he continued, in his first public statement on the issue."I apologise for the offence I've caused," he continued, in his first public statement on the issue.
Mr Ellwood said the letter was a "private" attempt to express genuine concerns over MPs pay, describing the pay structures as a "shambles" and "remain lower than the salaries of comparable public sector jobs".Mr Ellwood said the letter was a "private" attempt to express genuine concerns over MPs pay, describing the pay structures as a "shambles" and "remain lower than the salaries of comparable public sector jobs".
He said: "We need to attract the best from all walks of life to ensure that Parliament is as representative as possible of our society in terms of its diversity.He said: "We need to attract the best from all walks of life to ensure that Parliament is as representative as possible of our society in terms of its diversity.
"Given the toxic history of the topic, most people avoid any comment on MPs pay."Given the toxic history of the topic, most people avoid any comment on MPs pay.
"If we genuinely want good people from all backgrounds to consider stepping into public service and standing for Parliament, then we cannot shy away from the awkward issue of assessing what that basic figure should be and, in doing so, attempt to draw a line under this long running debate.""If we genuinely want good people from all backgrounds to consider stepping into public service and standing for Parliament, then we cannot shy away from the awkward issue of assessing what that basic figure should be and, in doing so, attempt to draw a line under this long running debate."
Mr Ellwood concluded by writing: "I end where I began by saying I am sorry my private comments have caused offence.Mr Ellwood concluded by writing: "I end where I began by saying I am sorry my private comments have caused offence.
"My private attempt to highlight the changing make-up of Parliament was flawed and has sadly underlined the perception that MPs are out of touch."My private attempt to highlight the changing make-up of Parliament was flawed and has sadly underlined the perception that MPs are out of touch.
"That is something I very much regret and must now focus on repairing.""That is something I very much regret and must now focus on repairing."