MPs' pay recommendation rejected

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Downing Street insisted the rise for 2007/08 should be kept down to 1.9% in line with public sector pay settlements.

MPs will have a free vote next week on whether to agree the Government deal, which would leave them with a salary of £61,820 - up from £60,277 last year and their current £60,675.

The Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) said MPs should be given a pay rise of 1.9% for the current financial year - on top of a 0.66% increase they received in April 2007.

But Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman said the Government believed the recommendation should be staged, with only 0.84% backdated to April 1 and 1.06% to November 1.

In a written statement to the Commons, she said this would give MPs a 1.9% increase across 2007/08.

The Government also rejected a recommendation that ministers' salaries should rise by more than MPs'.

Ms Harman said: "Government has had to take difficult decisions over the past year to stage pay awards in the public sector.

"In support of the Government's goals for the whole economy, the principles sought for pay in the public sector should also apply to MPs."

Ms Harman also said the Government wants to introduce an "independent mechanism" before the 2008/09 award is set which would mean MPs do not vote on their own pay.