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MPs ready to decide pay increase Show salary discipline, MPs urged
(about 11 hours later)
MPs are due to decide whether to back Prime Minister Gordon Brown's call for a below-inflation pay increase. MPs have been urged to show the "same discipline" as other public sector workers and accept a 1.9% pay rise.
Commons Leader Harriet Harman also called on them to end the "inappropriate practice" of voting on their own salary increases.
The independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) has recommended a 2.56% salary rise from £60,277 to £61,820.The independent Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) has recommended a 2.56% salary rise from £60,277 to £61,820.
The government says the rise should mirror below-inflation public sector deals, and be awarded in two stages - making it effectively worth 1.9%. Public sector workers have been given a below-inflation 1.9% rise, which ministers says should apply to MPs.
The Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat front benches are all in agreement on the lower figure. With both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat front benches backing the government's stance on this year's pay award, it looks set to pass, possibly without a vote.
Review commissioned 'Shouldn't be voting'
Commons Leader Harriet Harman has said she hoped MPs would accept the government's recommendations to keep their award below inflation. Ministers say the increase to £61,820 should be staged so that the effective value of the increase would be held to 1.9%.
The government has also said MPs should see their allowances increased by almost £10,000 a year to employ additional staff. They say this - and the same-sized pay rise for public sector workers - is essential in the fight against inflation.
It could be the last time MPs have to make a decision on their own pay. Opening a Commons debate, Ms Harman said: "As MPs are paid out of the public purse, we should show the same discipline in terms of pay increases as other public sector workers.
Ministers have commissioned a review to investigate whether an independent body could set their pay and pensions. "Like everyone else, we should not decide on our own pay and shouldn't be voting on our pay increases."
Recommended rises But Martin Salter, Labour MP for Reading West, warned once a new independent mechanism of setting MPs' pay was established the government must "keep its paws" off the recommended rises.
The government has come under pressure from unions over its below-inflation 2% public sector pay rise ceiling. Union anger
Workers, including police and nurses, have been angered by the government's decision not to pay recommended rises in full. Ministers have commissioned a review to investigate whether an independent body could set MPs' pay and pensions.
The government has come under pressure from unions over its below-inflation public sector pay rise ceiling.
Workers, including police and nurses, have been angered by the decision not to pay recommended rises in full.
The Tax Payers' Alliance urged MPs to think about the position of their constituents.The Tax Payers' Alliance urged MPs to think about the position of their constituents.
Chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "Our politicians are already well paid and enjoy generous expenses and allowances - that should be enough for a job which is meant to be about public service. Chief executive Matthew Elliott said: "Our politicians are already well paid and enjoy generous expenses and allowances - that should be enough for a job which is meant to be about public service."
"Ordinary families struggle to pay tax bills so that front line services can be provided, and people will be horrified if MPs spend that hard-earned money on awarding themselves yet another pay rise.
"The sight of MPs cashing in would fuel ill will and resentment amongst ordinary tax payers."