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Crunch, what crunch? MPs ask for 21% rise
Joe Murphy and Nicholas Cecil17.06.08
MPs were today revealed to be asking for a 21 per cent pay rise - worth £13,180.
Their demand caused outrage on a day the economy fell deeper into crisis, with inflation bursting its official ceiling to hit 3.3 per cent.
It came as the Government is ordering ordinary people to show pay restraint.
Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "Families are sick and tired of MPs who expect huge pay rises at a time when we are all facing bigger tax bills, higher mortgage costs and soaring food prices."
The pay row comes after a series of scandals in which MPs were revealed to be helping themselves to Commons expenses allowances.
Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker said: "This is like pouring petrol on flames. I cannot believe that MPs could seriously suggest unilaterally a big increase in their own salary."
MPs currently get £61,820. They want it to go up to £75,000 after the general election.
Gordon Brown and the Cabinet this morning tried to set an example to others by foregoing a ministerial pay rise this year.
The proposal was accepted unanimously at Cabinet. But within minutes an independent report into parliamentary pay revealed that senior MPs were making a mockery of the high-minded call.
In his review of pay levels, Sir John Baker disclosed he had been lobbied by the three MPs who sit on Speaker Michael Martin's review into MPs' generous pay and allowances.
"Many MPs have argued in evidence to me for a significantly higher salary, on the grounds of workload and what they believe to be the comparitors they identify," he wrote. "The memorandum from Sir Stuart Bell MP, Nick Harvey MP, and the Rt Hon David Maclean MP argued a case for £75,000."
Sir John added that other unnamed MPs were pushing for their pay to go up to £100,000.
Downing Street promptly insisted that MPs should be limited this year to a rise of two to 2.5 per cent.
But the Prime Minister's spokesman said there will be a free vote on July 3. Members of the Government will be under orders not to vote for a higher figure, but others will be free to push for more.
Commons Leader Harriet Harman said MPs would vote on a series of options next month. As well as the Government's preferred limit of around 2.5 per cent, they could vote on a recommendation from Sir John for an inflationbusting three year deal of 3.5 per cent a year plus an annual "catch-up" sum of £650.
Trade union Unison said: "It is all very well ministers giving up their pay increase, but this is small comfort to millions of public sector workers who are faced with an effective three-year pay cut."
