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Brown warns MPs over pay increase Brown warns MPs over pay increase
(10 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has urged MPs to limit their pay rises to keep them in line with those of public sector workers like nurses and police.Gordon Brown has urged MPs to limit their pay rises to keep them in line with those of public sector workers like nurses and police.
The decision on MPs' pay will be made by the House of Commons, but Mr Brown said increases must stay below 2%.The decision on MPs' pay will be made by the House of Commons, but Mr Brown said increases must stay below 2%.
He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show they should demonstrate the "discipline that we ask of other people" and that ministers "must" do the same.He told BBC One's Andrew Marr show they should demonstrate the "discipline that we ask of other people" and that ministers "must" do the same.
Mr Brown said 2008 would be "decisive" for "breaking the back of inflation".Mr Brown said 2008 would be "decisive" for "breaking the back of inflation".
'Recommendation'
The Senior Salaries Pay Board has reportedly recommended a 2.8% increase for MPs.The Senior Salaries Pay Board has reportedly recommended a 2.8% increase for MPs.
This provoked anger among police, nurses and other public sector workers, who had been told that their own rises must stay below a 2% ceiling this year to keep inflation under control.This provoked anger among police, nurses and other public sector workers, who had been told that their own rises must stay below a 2% ceiling this year to keep inflation under control.
The government's decision not to backdate a 2.5% pay rise for police officers - effectively reducing the increase to 1.9% - prompted the Police Federation to say it will ballot members in 2008 on whether they want the right to strike.
Mr Brown said: "Government ministers must have a rate of pay increase that is below 2% - 1.9%. At the same time, my recommendation is that that is what goes for MPs."Mr Brown said: "Government ministers must have a rate of pay increase that is below 2% - 1.9%. At the same time, my recommendation is that that is what goes for MPs."
Brown 'judged'
While the prime minister can state his preferred figure, MPs will have the final say on their pay rise through a free vote in the Commons.While the prime minister can state his preferred figure, MPs will have the final say on their pay rise through a free vote in the Commons.
I think it's very important that we send a message to nurses, police and all those people in the public sector Gordon Brown Superbug screening pledgedI think it's very important that we send a message to nurses, police and all those people in the public sector Gordon Brown Superbug screening pledged
The prime minister also said he would "like to pay... more" to nurses and police but that this was not possible at the moment.The prime minister also said he would "like to pay... more" to nurses and police but that this was not possible at the moment.
'Judged'
Mr Brown said: "This is a decisive year for the economy. We've got to take the right long-term choices this year.Mr Brown said: "This is a decisive year for the economy. We've got to take the right long-term choices this year.
"I will be judged, as will the chancellor, by whether we take the right choices for the economy.""I will be judged, as will the chancellor, by whether we take the right choices for the economy."
Mr Brown has been criticised by unions for staging public sector pay increases, effectively bringing them below 2% for the year.Mr Brown has been criticised by unions for staging public sector pay increases, effectively bringing them below 2% for the year.
He said: "We must show exactly the same discipline that we ask of other people.He said: "We must show exactly the same discipline that we ask of other people.
"In fact, the recommendations for significant pay rises will be rejected and I think it's very important that we send a message to nurses, police and all those people in the public sector, it is very important in this year that we break the back of inflation.""In fact, the recommendations for significant pay rises will be rejected and I think it's very important that we send a message to nurses, police and all those people in the public sector, it is very important in this year that we break the back of inflation."
Energy Long-term interests
Mr Brown said there would also be important choices ahead for the future of the NHS and for education.Mr Brown said there would also be important choices ahead for the future of the NHS and for education.
Last week, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said some of the messages put forward by Tory leader David Cameron appeared to be "resonating" with voters.Last week, Justice Secretary Jack Straw said some of the messages put forward by Tory leader David Cameron appeared to be "resonating" with voters.
Asked whether he thought this was the case, Mr Brown said: "No, I do not."Asked whether he thought this was the case, Mr Brown said: "No, I do not."
Earlier, he hinted that the government might approve a new generation of nuclear power plants.Earlier, he hinted that the government might approve a new generation of nuclear power plants.
He told the Observer newspaper that taking decisions on energy sources was "a fundamental precondition of preparing Britain for the new world".He told the Observer newspaper that taking decisions on energy sources was "a fundamental precondition of preparing Britain for the new world".
He used the interview to accuse his opponents of "opportunism", saying he would put long-term interests first.He used the interview to accuse his opponents of "opportunism", saying he would put long-term interests first.