Our greedy MPs demand massive pay rise

SENIOR MPs have demanded a shocking 21 per cent pay rise to take their salaries to £75,000, it emerged last night.

Senior MPs have demanded a 21 pay rise Senior MPs have demanded a 21% pay rise

The massive cash claim – as millions of families are being squeezed by the soaring cost of living and record inflation – provoked fury and disbelief in Westminster.

Politicians claim they need to “catch up” with other professionals and some greedy backbenchers are even calling for £100,000 a year while pay deals for hard-pressed workers across the country are failing to keep pace with rocketing prices for food and fuel.

Critics were horrified at more evidence that the Westminster gravy train is out of control. Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker, a campaigner against Westminster sleaze, said: “This is like pouring petrol on flames.

They want it to go up to £75,000 after the next general election.” The demands were revealed yesterday in a Parliamentary pay report by Sir John Baker of the Senior Salaries Review Body.

It came as inflation hit 3.3 per cent – the highest level since Labour took power.

A memo from senior backbenchers Sir Stuart Bell, Nick Harvey and David Maclean had “argued the case for £75,000”. Others suggested a salary of  £100,000 or more, said the report. The row provoked jitters in Downing Street, with Gordon Brown fearing a backlash from voters.

He imposed a one-year pay freeze on himself and all ministers in a move which will cost him £1,900 and each Cabinet minister £1,200. At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting he ordered ministers not to accept a proposed ministerial pay rise of around 1.5 per cent.

But the move was dismissed as an “empty gesture” last night. Tory Shadow Leader of the Commons Theresa May said: “This gesture is fine as far as it goes, but it is a distraction from the central issue of today – which is the rising cost of living for families across the country.

“David Cameron and the small number of Conservatives on the ministerial payroll will give up their pay rises for this financial year and the Shadow Cabinet will reject the above-inflation rise for MPs recommended by Sir John Baker’s review.”

As well as Mr Cameron, five other senior Tories yesterday announced they will decline to accept their pay rises this year. Trade unions dismissed Mr Brown’s pay rise ban for ministers as an “empty gesture”. Brian Strutton, national officer of the GMB union, said: “Inflation is spiralling and using public sector pay to try to counter it will not tackle the causes but will fuel recession.”

The pay review has recommended a staggered 16 per cent rise from the current backbenchers’ salary of £61,820 to around £72,000 by 2010.

That figure will anger the millions of families struggling to cope with rising costs. And the proposed salary hikes will come on top of MPs’ expenses, which average £135,000 a year.

The study claims MPs have “fallen behind their peers” and calls for an extra £650 a year for MPs over the next three years – on top of their annual rise – as “catch-up money.” It also proposed a 4.6 per cent rise to £64,636 for MPs this year as the first step towards raising their salaries.

MPs will vote on a range of options to increase their pay next month. They are set to give up their right to set their own pay – and many want a big hike before new rules are applied.

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