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| Version 9 | Version 10 |
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| Brown warns MPs over pay increase | Brown warns MPs over pay increase |
| (about 1 hour 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 the BBC's Andrew Marr Show they should demonstrate the "discipline that we ask of other people". | He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show they should demonstrate the "discipline that we ask of other people". |
| But Brendan Barber, of the TUC, warned Mr Brown that public sector pay should stay in line with inflation. | But Brendan Barber, of the TUC, warned Mr Brown that public sector pay should stay in line with inflation. |
| Mr Barber, the general secretary of the TUC, said there was a danger of disputes in the public services. | Mr Barber, the general secretary of the TUC, said there was a danger of disputes in the public services. |
| "The six million people who deliver our public services, they're voters too and the story they tell...about what's happening in their public services, is a very important contributor to the wider public mood," he said. | "The six million people who deliver our public services, they're voters too and the story they tell...about what's happening in their public services, is a very important contributor to the wider public mood," he said. |
| "So if the atmosphere in the public services is of discontent, and disarray and disillusionment, that's not going to do the government any political favours at all." | "So if the atmosphere in the public services is of discontent, and disarray and disillusionment, that's not going to do the government any political favours at all." |
| Anger | Anger |
| 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". |
| The Senior Salaries Pay Board has reportedly recommended a 2.8% increase for MPs on the current £60,675 a year. | The Senior Salaries Pay Board has reportedly recommended a 2.8% increase for MPs on the current £60,675 a year. |
| MPs' AND MINISTERS' PAY MP - £60,675Minister of state - £100,568Cabinet minister - £137,579Prime minister - £188,849Source: Commons information office | MPs' AND MINISTERS' PAY MP - £60,675Minister of state - £100,568Cabinet minister - £137,579Prime minister - £188,849Source: Commons information office |
| 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 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland - as it has been in Scotland - prompted the Police Federation to say it would ballot members in 2008 on whether they want the right to strike. | |
| The federation believes the government move effectively reduces the increase to 1.9%. | |
| 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." |
| 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 pledged | 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 pledged |
| The prime minister also said he would "like to pay... more" to nurses and police but it was not possible at the moment. | The prime minister also said he would "like to pay... more" to nurses and police but it was not possible at the moment. |
| "This is a decisive year for the economy. We've got to take the right long-term choices this year," he said. | "This is a decisive year for the economy. We've got to take the right long-term choices this year," he said. |
| "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." |
| For the Conservatives, shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said: "I think today's story is about Gordon Brown trying to prevent a row about his other problems. | For the Conservatives, shadow work and pensions secretary Chris Grayling said: "I think today's story is about Gordon Brown trying to prevent a row about his other problems. |
| "To put MPs into a position where we are voting about our own pay doesn't seem right." | "To put MPs into a position where we are voting about our own pay doesn't seem right." |
| Labour MP for Ealing North, Stephen Pound, told BBC Radio Five Live he thought MPs were paid a "fair rate". | Labour MP for Ealing North, Stephen Pound, told BBC Radio Five Live he thought MPs were paid a "fair rate". |
| "The problem is the majority of MPs are either extremely rich, or have second jobs or third jobs. We should ban all of that," he said. | "The problem is the majority of MPs are either extremely rich, or have second jobs or third jobs. We should ban all of that," he said. |
| 'Big choices' | 'Big choices' |
| Mr Brown told the Andrew Marr Show: "This is a year of very big choices for British society and for Britain as a whole. | Mr Brown told the Andrew Marr Show: "This is a year of very big choices for British society and for Britain as a whole. |
| "It is about equipping ourselves for the future. It is a year of big long-term decisions. | "It is about equipping ourselves for the future. It is a year of big long-term decisions. |
| "I will be judged by whether I get these big choices right and so will the whole government be judged by that. | "I will be judged by whether I get these big choices right and so will the whole government be judged by that. |
| "These are choices about secure energy, building new houses for people, about building infrastructure, getting our education and health systems right and making our economy secure when faced by global financial turbulence." | "These are choices about secure energy, building new houses for people, about building infrastructure, getting our education and health systems right and making our economy secure when faced by global financial turbulence." |
| 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. |
| Mr Brown told the Observer newspaper that taking decisions on energy sources was "a fundamental precondition of preparing Britain for the new world". | Mr Brown 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. |