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Above-inflation pay rise for 13 in the Government
Joe Murphy, Political Editor11 Aug 2008
Thirteen government members including Harriet Harman will get an inflation-busting pay rise next year, the Evening Standard can reveal.
They are among 26 London MPs whose Commons pay will increase by up to 9.4 per cent from 1 April under a deal voted through before the summer recess.
The cash bonanza flies in the face of the Government's official policy of pay restraint - and will benefit ministers who have voted to hold down pay for police and nurses.
Altogether the MPs will get increases of about £6,000 each next year, made up of the annual rise that all MPs receive plus a huge one-off increase in the pay top-up that MPs with London constituencies are allowed to claim.
For Cabinet minister Ms Harman, who is paid £140,000 a year, the rise is worth around 4.3 per cent. She voted against the increase but Commons authorities say it will be automatically added to her pay packet in April.
Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell voted for it, however, as did Justice Minister Bridget Prentice and Labour whip Siobhain McDonagh. All three support the Government's policy of holding down public sector pay to around 2.5 per cent.
The TaxPayer's Alliance condemned the rises. Spokesman Mark Wallace said: "These are remarkably large figures, particularly for ministers in a government that has produced so much rhetoric about public sector pay restraint.
"Next time these ministers say they understand what ordinary people are going through, everyone should remember they have protected themselves from the soaring cost of living, while the rest of us foot the bill."
The Conservatives said Labour had voted against more transparency over Westminster pay and allowances. Shadow Commons leader Theresa May said: "These figures show that by voting against our proposals to make MPs' pay more transparent, government ministers pocketed thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money. "How are we supposed to restore public faith in politicians when it is Labour government ministers themselves who are denying the public the proper scrutiny system they deserve?"
MPs currently get a basic salary of £61,181 but 26 London MPs claim the London supplement worth £2,812. On 3 July, the Commons voted to raise the supplement to £7,500 next spring, an increase of £4,584. In a separate vote, MPs decided their basic pay would rise in April by a formula linked to the salaries of other senior public sector managers. At current rates, the formula would net them a 2.25 per cent rise, worth £1,276, making a total increase in the spring of £6,060.
Reader views (2)
One assumes that the redundancy package and pension they receive when they are inevitably kicked out of office a year later will be based on this inflation busting figure? That no doubt explains it.
- Tom Moncrieff, london W6, 11/08/2008 13:57
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Shock! Horror!
Thirteen government members will receive an inflation-busting pay rise next year of up to 9.4 per cent! Is this a prudent action given the colossal economic uncertainty of the country?
Does this now mean that "the Government's official policy of pay restraint" is simply a case of "do as I say, NOT as I do"?
In order not to display bias or discrimination presumably a pay rise next year of up to 9.4 per cent will now be made available to ALL levels of civil servants? If the government fails to do so will this not lead to extreme trouble within the European Courts?
- Fraser, Telford Park, 11/08/2008 11:48
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