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Parliament
MPs are campaigning to have their salaries increased in light of expenses cuts

MPs demand pay rise in lieu of cut expenses

Nicholas Cecil, Deputy Political Editor
11 Nov 2009


Nearly 40 MPs today backed a campaign for their pay to rise and warned against huge cuts to their expenses.

They stressed that reforms of Commons allowances should not breach "natural justice" or be retrospective.

Many MPs are furious at a proposed ban on employing family members and claiming mortgage interest payments on second homes.

Some hope the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will water down proposals intended to end the expenses scandal by Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Sir Christopher and parliamentarystandards authority chairman Sir Ian Kennedy issued a statement saying the IPSA had a "lot of work to do", although the latter was said to be "content" with assurances he received.

Some 37 MPs, including senior backbenchers Frank Field, Frank Dobson and Sir Nicholas Winterton, signed a Commons motion calling for the Government and Parliament not to block a pay rise recommended by an independent body. They said of Sir Ian: "We hope he carries out his duties in line with natural justice."

Reader views (9)

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To those MP;s who want a humungous pay rise:

1. You've enforced a pay freeze for all public sector workers earning less than £18K. As public servants, you too should be freezing your pay.

2. By your own admission, the expenses scandal had destroyed the public's trust in parliament and had to be overhauled.

3. You lot just don't understand the real world.

- Joannie, Newham, London, 11/11/2009 20:25
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Dream on. What we, the tax payers, want is a few MPs and Peers in jail for fraud.

- Very Angry At Mp'S Expenses, Home Counties, 11/11/2009 16:28
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I think they should go on strike. Then the civil service can get on with running the country without any silly interference.

- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 11/11/2009 15:17
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Lets vote these MPS out at the next election. Take down the names and take action, let the people speak!

- Porky Pies, Land of Make Believe, London, 11/11/2009 15:01
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They are not in it just for the money then?

Quite frankly there are far too many MPs as it is. Now with the EU Constitution in force, we shall only need a few 'MP administrators' in Parliament just to rubber stamp all the EU Directives that will issue forth.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 11/11/2009 12:15
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How about giving them shares in the unprofitable part of Northern Rock as a pay rise?

- Bob, Cheam, 11/11/2009 10:00
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Please print all of their names.MPs must understand that we do not need 60% of them now that we are governed by the EU,and as the EU are doing most of the work,MPs should be getting a 25% salary reduction.Common sense must tell them that the British public have to pay for EU politicians who make our laws,so there is no need for their positions any more,they will be redundant.They should not panic,there are still a number of minimum pay(slave labour)jobs to fill,which they will be allowed to apply for.

- Dave, london, 11/11/2009 09:50
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so very very out of touch with reality

- Tom, London, 11/11/2009 09:36
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If there was any "natural justice" in the bankrupt UK the police would have arrested, photographed, finger-printed, DNA'd and charged countless MP's with fraudulent expenses claims.

Never mind about MP's shouting for a pay increase.

Reduce the number of parasite MP's from 645 to 145 and the other 500 can join the 4,000,000 currently thrown onto the dole scrap heap.

- Reuben Camara, Plot 1, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR, 11/11/2009 09:27
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