MPs are in line for £20,000 Pay Rise

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MPs Are In Line For £20,000 Pay Rise

MPs' salaries are expected to rise by at least £10,000
following a major review, taking them to more than £75,000.

12:39pm UK,
Sunday 19 May 2013

MPs are in line for £20,000 Pay Rise 16233269-522x293

Some MPs have claimed they should be paid more than
£100,000

MPs are in line for a pay rise of up to £20,000 in a move that
could spark public fury.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has been looking at
an increase of between £10,000 and £20,000.

This could potentially boost MPs' pay to more than three times the £26,500
national average salary.

The lower £10,000 figure is considered a more likely increase but even this
is likely to anger voters.

Taxpayers' salaries have risen by just 0.6% on average this year and many
people are struggling to cope with the rising cost of living.

The hike for MPs would be partly offset by curbs to their gold-plated
pensions and personal expenses.

However the proposal has already met with an incredulous response from many
social media users.
Speaker John Bercow wants higher salaries for
MPs

Harlow Labour councillor Ian Beckett tweeted: "Ground control to Westminster
... what planet are you on?"

Ipsa took responsibility for MPs' salaries and pensions two years ago after
it emerged some MPs had been fiddling their expenses.

It has recently been conducting a fundamental review.

A survey released by the watchdog in January found politicians on average
believed they should be paid £86,000 rather than £66,000, with some demanding
more than £100,000.

The watchdog is due to deliver its initial proposals for consultation next
month, although the main changes will not come into effect until after the
general election in 2015.

However, any significant rise is certain to be controversial as the economy
continues to struggle and the rest of the public sector is subject to tight pay
restraint.

Speaker John Bercow is among those who have been pushing for better
remuneration, warning that the Commons must attract people from all
backgrounds.

Officials are concerned that David Cameron and other party leaders may find
it difficult to back such an increase.

Last month ministers acted to reduce the government element of their pay so
they did not benefit from a 1% increase granted to MPs.