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Two sides to the coin of MPs’ pay rise Two sides to the coin of MPs’ pay rise
(2 days later)
Your editorial (4 June) is commendable, as the confected uproar about MPs’ pay is tiresome and self-defeating. For years pay was suppressed as their role metastasised when other outlets for grievance and redress withered or were choked of funding. That gave us the expenses boil that was lanced and dressed. Now they cannot be paid properly and any expenses whatsoever are glibly viewed with suspicion. People moan about the quality of MPs and their independent wealth or lack of real world experience but at every turn carp about their perks. I do not begrudge a bad MP his pay. I begrudge his party and electors for putting him there and the media for making his type possible by painting all with the same brush. Why would anyone want the job? Because most of them are fine people who want the best for citizens - people like Charles Kennedy.David StockleyReigate, SurreyYour editorial (4 June) is commendable, as the confected uproar about MPs’ pay is tiresome and self-defeating. For years pay was suppressed as their role metastasised when other outlets for grievance and redress withered or were choked of funding. That gave us the expenses boil that was lanced and dressed. Now they cannot be paid properly and any expenses whatsoever are glibly viewed with suspicion. People moan about the quality of MPs and their independent wealth or lack of real world experience but at every turn carp about their perks. I do not begrudge a bad MP his pay. I begrudge his party and electors for putting him there and the media for making his type possible by painting all with the same brush. Why would anyone want the job? Because most of them are fine people who want the best for citizens - people like Charles Kennedy.David StockleyReigate, Surrey
• Most of the population are justifiably unsympathetic to the political class.MPs’ pay is just another issue revealing the disconnect with ordinary people. It is set by a committee of the great and the good and is inevitably subject to the ratchet effect which has led to the explosion of directors’ pay and rewards. There is a simple solution. Make it a fixed multiple, between two and three, of the median wage, presently about £2,500. If incomes for most are static or in decline, while the rich few per cent go ever higher, then that would ensure MPs remain in touch with those they are supposed to represent. It would be interesting to do a survey of the income of all ex-MPs after a few years. I doubt if many would improve their income.Hugh OsbornCambridge • Most of the population are justifiably unsympathetic to the political class.MPs’ pay is just another issue revealing the disconnect with ordinary people. It is set by a committee of the great and the good and is inevitably subject to the ratchet effect which has led to the explosion of directors’ pay and rewards. There is a simple solution. Make it a fixed multiple, between two and three, of the median wage, presently about £25,000. If incomes for most are static or in decline, while the rich few per cent go ever higher, then that would ensure MPs remain in touch with those they are supposed to represent. It would be interesting to do a survey of the income of all ex-MPs after a few years. I doubt if many would improve their income.Hugh OsbornCambridge
• Once again MPs are, in effect, deciding on their pay rather than abiding by the decision of the independent Ipsa body. They really must accept that the point of increasing their pay is not primarily for existing MPs but rather to encourage potential candidates, who may well not be inclined to take a pay cut. Further, if they are determined to wear the hairshirt of personally refusing the increase, could they please keep their decision to themselves? Otherwise, when publicised, it gives all the appearance of doing it for political gain. Much better to adopt the classic Quaker dictum of “doing good by stealth”.Michael MeadowcroftLeeds• Once again MPs are, in effect, deciding on their pay rather than abiding by the decision of the independent Ipsa body. They really must accept that the point of increasing their pay is not primarily for existing MPs but rather to encourage potential candidates, who may well not be inclined to take a pay cut. Further, if they are determined to wear the hairshirt of personally refusing the increase, could they please keep their decision to themselves? Otherwise, when publicised, it gives all the appearance of doing it for political gain. Much better to adopt the classic Quaker dictum of “doing good by stealth”.Michael MeadowcroftLeeds
• I have a good solution to MPs’ pay. Let them be put on the NHS Agenda for Change pay scales at point 46. This is currently set at £67,805. Then every time the NHS gets a pay rise, so will the MPs. This will keep MPs’ salaries in line with public sector pay.Jennie WilsonClaydon, Suffolk• I have a good solution to MPs’ pay. Let them be put on the NHS Agenda for Change pay scales at point 46. This is currently set at £67,805. Then every time the NHS gets a pay rise, so will the MPs. This will keep MPs’ salaries in line with public sector pay.Jennie WilsonClaydon, Suffolk
• A letter was amended on 11 June 2015. An earlier version referred to a median wage of £2,500. That has been corrected to £25,000.