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MPs demand 66 per cent pay rise
Last updated at 13:52pm on 04.12.06
Outrage: The hike would see the annual House of Commons salary bill soar from £39million to £65million
MPs are facing a furious public backlash after demanding their pay should rise to £100,000 a year.
Backbenchers have written to the independent body which sets their salary, seeking an eye-watering 66 per cent increase on the current £60,277.
They claim the huge hike would simply put them on a par with other senior public sector workers such as GPs and council chiefs.
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But at a time of unparalleled public distrust in MPs, and generally low pay rises based on the inflation rate, they were warned that they are totally out of touch.
Their request was described as a 'kick in the teeth' by Keith Turner, 68, who has campaigned tirelessly for £2.50-a-day medication for Alzheimer's patients to be available on the NHS.
'I am absolutely disgusted,' he said. 'When you consider that it would cost about £1,000 a year to give a person their life back on these drugs, and you put it against what these MPs want, it is unbelievable.'
If the MPs had their way, the annual House of Commons salary bill would soar from £39million to £65million. On top of this, the 646 members last year claimed a total of £86.7million in expenses and office allowances – worth an average £134,000 each.
And the cost of running the House of Commons, including all lighting, heating, maintenance, subsidised food and staffing costs means that each MP already costs taxpayers a total of £726,000 a year.
Some Tories believe that a salary of £75,000 is a more realistic target and it is considered highly unlikely that the £100,000 request will be granted when the SSRB reports on MPs' salaries in the New Year.
In any case, Gordon Brown would be expected to block such an inflation-busting rise. A spokesman for the Chancellor said: 'Gordon expects all branches of Government to observe discipline in their wage demands and that includes MPs.'
But Tory Sir John Butterfill, a former chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, insisted that MPs' pay had fallen behind other professions.
'There are a lot of unhappy bunnies,' he said. 'Not that many years ago, we were on a par with GPs and heads of comprehensive schools. They are now on £100,000. Over the years, we have been downgraded and compared to junior directors of middle-sized companies at the last review. But, even so, we have failed to keep up.' The demands come at a time when confidence in British politicians is at an all-time low after of the cash-for-honours affair and other sleaze scandals.
Sir Alistair Graham, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, recently revealed that seven out of ten voters believe MPs habitually lie, and that ministers are now seen as less trustworthy than estate agents.
Meanwhile, other workers in the public sector have been told to tighten their belts and are facing the threat of job cuts.
Since 1997, MPs' pay has risen by 37 per cent – although the Commons sat for a mere 137 days last year.
Most work at Westminster for only 31⁄2 days a week and no longer have to stay for regular late-night sittings which were abolished three years ago.
Members can claim salaries for researchers, secretaries and other staff as well as travel on official business, office costs, stationery, postage and computer equipment.
They are allowed to claim for 350 miles of travel every month without submitting receipts.
There have been claims that MPs use their additional costs allowance to buy food processors, televisions and soft furnishings for their homes.
Last month, MPs voted to give themselves a £168million goldplated pension scheme and a new communications allowance, which will cost taxpayers a further £6million a year.
MPs have one of the most generous final salary pension deals in the country. An MP retiring today who has served 26 years could expect to collect an inflation- proof £40,000 a year.
James Frayne, campaign director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: 'At a time when people have become totally disillusioned with the performance and behaviour of politicians, it is extraordinary they should be demanding that taxpayers pay them a six-figure salary.
'It reflects how out of touch politicians have become.'
Former anti-sleaze MP Martin Bell said: 'Serving as an MP is a privilege. The existing salary is well above the average earned by MPs' constituents. It is perfectly enough for people to live on.
'If an MP cannot live on the existing allowance, he or she he or she should make way for someone who can. I took a pay cut to become an MP, but still found it quite enough to live on.'
Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, condemned the claim at a time when low-paid public sector workers are having wage rises capped at 3 per cent.
He said: 'These are the same people who protected their own pension scheme but cut the pensions of the lowest-paid public sector workers.
'Is it any wonder that people are cynical about politicians? They are out to lunch and they want someone else to pay.'
Alzheimer's campaigner Mr Turner said: 'I think they are laughing at those who are less fortunate and most vulnerable, who are only asking for something they deserve and have paid for.'
And mother-of-three Ann Marie Rogers, 54, who was forced to take Swindon Primary Care Trust to court over its refusal to fund a £24,000 course of Herceptin for the treatment of earlystage breast cancer, said: 'I can't believe the MPs are asking for a rise like that. The country has gone crazy.
'What do they actually do for their money? The country is in a mess, there are homeless on the streets, and they are asking for a rise.'
Reader views (19)
So, everyone is apparently outraged at the thought of such an increase in pay for MPs. There seems to be collective amnesia over what an MP is and who gives an MP the key to the office. They are are contract workers. If you don't like what they do don't renew their contract.
- Peter, Weston super Mare, England, 31/08/2007 08:35
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Perhaps they should be on a par with GPs. However, GPs, to my knowledge, don't get the huge allowances that MPs get. So if they get the pay rise, their allowances should be scrapped.
- Ab, London, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Seems there is no limit to the greed and avarice within New Labour in particular - this government always leaves me feeling there are bigger shocks, disasters, and incompetence to come.
- Robert, Hull, East Yorks.,, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Snouts in the trough! And these are the same people who would say that 3% for teachers, nurses and blue-light services is too high. They should all be forced to accept the minimum wage and be measured on their performance.
- Brian, Bromley, Uk, 31/08/2007 07:35
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If they're unhappy with the salary the public is paying them then might I suggest they get another job.
- Andy, London, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Perhaps a pay cut to reflect the work devolved to the Scottish and Welsh Assemblies.
- Leon, London, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Anyone else with the incompetence of this so called government would be sacked. This lot get another ministry and an increase. It's beyond belief!
- Peter Bell, London, England, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Maybe it should be based on attendance. Anything less than 80% resulting in a pro-rata reduction. At times the House of Commons seems nearly empty. A fomer MP in my area was hardly in the House and harldy ever in his constituency.
- Michael, London, 31/08/2007 07:35
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My wife works for a well known private hospital which made a healthy £5 million profits. This year she was awarded a paltry 20p per hour increase, not even enough to cover the cost of getting to work, let alone all the rest.
If the MPs think they are not paid enough, they can always become taxi drivers, painter and decorators, plumbers... or they can all move abroad.
- John Smith, London, UK, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Why the hell would they want a 66% payrise, our MP's are certainly not worth the money, and secondly if this government stopped raising taxes and applying more stealth taxes - there wouldn't be any need - thing about us poor beggers who have to live within our means on a day to day basis - if this goes through expect a revolt.
- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt, 31/08/2007 07:35
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I suggest that that they only get a payrise of 1.5% and if they don't like it, they can call a strike. I'd like to know how much of the country would come out an support them!
- David Milbrand, Hounslow, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Maybe if they did a full week's work for 48 week's a year, they might deserve more. In reality, most of them attend the Commons 3, sometimes 4 days per week. They get ridiculously long holidays. And they come up with stupid ideas about how to run the country (Iraq?, Road charging? Elected mayors and "devolved" governments? Spiralling public service costs?). They should get a pay cut in my opinion.
- Nobby Clark, London, UK, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Ho Ho Ho. They want us to pay for their political parties and now they want a massive pay rise. Most of them could not get another paying job if they tried whilst those of us who do earn our living or pay Council tax are having to pay ever higher taxes. It is time that the English people revolted and threw the lot of them out!
- Bill, London, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Outsource their jobs, most people have to live with this fact. We do NOT need 620+ parasites to run this tiny island! If they get their payrise, this country is looking at the costs of MP's at £100M + per year (and it will keep rising). What exactly are we getting for this? The main 3 parties couldn't balance a chequebook between them!! Get rid of the lot of them and start again with people who actually want this country to prosper and NOT bring it to its kness with ridiculous taxes!!
- Aloo, London, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Is there no limit to their insensitivity. While it could be argued ministers are not overpaid in relation to their responsibilities, backbenchers are already vastly overpaid in relation to theirs (and to their talents).
- Warren Hertzberg, London, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Indeed it is high time British people revolted and started thinking what is in their best interest. MPs may have a salary of £40,000 per year, but on the top of this they get housing allowance, car allowance, traval allowance, benefits, pension, expenses for meals and even suits, tax allowances... totalling at least £150,000 per year (if not much more) which puts them well in par with top earners, and all this for a mere 3.5 days work per day. Therefore, if you calculate their real pay package, should they work a full week, it would be £215,000 per year!
If they are not happy with their pay, they should look for another job. No way should we give way and pay more taxes for MPs to earn more!
We have one of the highest tax per citizen compared to other countries in Europe and for the worst possible services. Enough is enough!
- Ed, London, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Outrageous! Why do MPs think they are worth such a pay rise? And if so, why don't other public sector workers get rewarded with the same pay award? Our elected "representatives" seem to be living in a world of their own - as ever. I'd also like to know why their pension arrangements cannot be applied to the rest of the electorate.
- John, Surbiton, 31/08/2007 07:35
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As approximately 70% of UK legislation emenates from unelected EU bureaucrats, UK MP's should be looking at a 70% reduction of their salaries and pensions. Not long now to when Westminster enjoys the status of a local council.
- Val Cowell, Poulton le Fylde UK, 31/08/2007 07:35
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Snouts, trough.
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark, 31/08/2007 07:35
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