This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/7972441.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| MPs awarded 2.33% salary increase | MPs awarded 2.33% salary increase |
| (1 day later) | |
| MPs are to receive a pay rise of 2.33% from 1 April, bringing their annual salary to about £64,766. | MPs are to receive a pay rise of 2.33% from 1 April, bringing their annual salary to about £64,766. |
| Rules introduced last year fixed the increase at the average received over the previous year by 15 different groups of public sector workers. | Rules introduced last year fixed the increase at the average received over the previous year by 15 different groups of public sector workers. |
| The Westminster salary rise comes at a time when many workers are facing no pay rise, or even reductions. | The Westminster salary rise comes at a time when many workers are facing no pay rise, or even reductions. |
| Gordon Brown has announced a freeze in ministerial salaries, calling it the "right thing to do". | Gordon Brown has announced a freeze in ministerial salaries, calling it the "right thing to do". |
| Those ministers who are MPs will also forgo the £1,500 rise in their parliamentary pay to which they are entitled, the prime minister's spokesman said. | |
| The Conservatives announced they would match that ministerial pay freeze for David Cameron and shadow Lords leader Lord Strathclyde - and pledged to impose a pay freeze for ministers in 2010/11 if they are in government. | The Conservatives announced they would match that ministerial pay freeze for David Cameron and shadow Lords leader Lord Strathclyde - and pledged to impose a pay freeze for ministers in 2010/11 if they are in government. |
| Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and his deputy, Vince Cable, will also not take up the rise, the party said. | Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg and his deputy, Vince Cable, will also not take up the rise, the party said. |
| Last week figures revealed that inflation, judged by the Consumer Prices Index, had risen to 3.2% in February this year. | Last week figures revealed that inflation, judged by the Consumer Prices Index, had risen to 3.2% in February this year. |
| Allowances | Allowances |
| But the Retail Prices Index, which includes mortgage costs, fell to zero in the same month. | But the Retail Prices Index, which includes mortgage costs, fell to zero in the same month. |
| MPs' basic pay is topped up by expenses and allowances worth up to around £180,000 a year to pay for their offices, staff and travel and the cost of spending time away from home while working at Westminster. | MPs' basic pay is topped up by expenses and allowances worth up to around £180,000 a year to pay for their offices, staff and travel and the cost of spending time away from home while working at Westminster. |
| Ministers also receive pay on top of their MPs' salary. | Ministers also receive pay on top of their MPs' salary. |
| Mr Brown, speaking at a Downing Street press conference, said: "Last year and this year ministers will have no pay rise. | Mr Brown, speaking at a Downing Street press conference, said: "Last year and this year ministers will have no pay rise. |
| "Their pay has been frozen. That's the right thing to do when people are suffering in the economy. | "Their pay has been frozen. That's the right thing to do when people are suffering in the economy. |
| "I made that decision myself and ministers have supported that decision because it's the right thing to do." | "I made that decision myself and ministers have supported that decision because it's the right thing to do." |
| Mr Brown's spokesman said all cabinet ministers consulted on the freeze had agreed to it on behalf of themselves and their more junior ministerial colleagues. | Mr Brown's spokesman said all cabinet ministers consulted on the freeze had agreed to it on behalf of themselves and their more junior ministerial colleagues. |
| An inquiry has been ordered into the whole question of MPs' pay and expenses following a series of controversies, including allegations relating to claims for second home allowances from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and work minister Tony McNulty. | An inquiry has been ordered into the whole question of MPs' pay and expenses following a series of controversies, including allegations relating to claims for second home allowances from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and work minister Tony McNulty. |
| The chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body, Bill Cockburn, wrote to Commons Speaker Michael Martin on Friday to inform him that he had calculated this year's average at 2.33%. | The chairman of the Senior Salaries Review Body, Bill Cockburn, wrote to Commons Speaker Michael Martin on Friday to inform him that he had calculated this year's average at 2.33%. |
| The rise is based on those of public sector employees ranging from judges and senior military officers to teachers, NHS workers and council employees. | The rise is based on those of public sector employees ranging from judges and senior military officers to teachers, NHS workers and council employees. |