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Show salary discipline, MPs urged MPs choose sub-inflation pay rise
(about 2 hours later)
MPs have been urged to show the "same discipline" as other public sector workers and accept a 1.9% pay rise. MPs have agreed to government demands to award themselves a below-inflation pay rise of 1.9%.
Commons Leader Harriet Harman also called on them to end the "inappropriate practice" of voting on their own salary increases. The decision - taken without a vote - follows a call by Commons leader Harriet Harman for "discipline".
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) had recommended a 2.56% salary rise from £60,277 to £61,820.
Public sector workers have been given a below-inflation 1.9% rise, which ministers says should apply to MPs. But the government said this was not appropriate when public sector workers were getting 1.9%. It also wants MPs to lose the right to set their own salary.
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. With both the Conservative and Liberal Democrat front benches backing the government, the decision over this year's pay settlement did not go to a formal vote.
'Shouldn't be voting''Shouldn't be voting'
Ministers say the increase to £61,820 should be staged so that the effective value of the increase would be held to 1.9%. During the 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.
They say this - and the same-sized pay rise for public sector workers - is essential in the fight against inflation.
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.
"Like everyone else, we should not decide on our own pay and shouldn't be voting on our pay increases.""Like everyone else, we should not decide on our own pay and shouldn't be voting on our pay increases."
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.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.
Union anger
Ministers have commissioned a review to investigate whether an independent body could set MPs' pay and pensions.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. The government has come under pressure from unions over its public sector pay rise.
But it insists this is necessary to keep inflation down.
Workers, including police and nurses, have been angered by the decision not to pay recommended rises in full.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 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."