MPs reject pay proposals

MPs across the Fylde coast have roundly rejected proposals to raise their pay by 11 per cent, labelling the idea as ‘obscene’.
Fylde MP Mark MenziesFylde MP Mark Menzies
Fylde MP Mark Menzies

Mark Menzies and Gordon Marsden have joined their three Fylde based colleagues in suggesting proposals to raise their annual income by £7,600 should be opposed.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) is set to recommend a rise to £74,000, to come in after the 2015 election.

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IPSA has said a substantial “one-off” rise is justified as MPs pay has fallen behind in recent years - they do not need Parliament’s permission to bring this into play.

Blackpool South MP Gordon MarsdenBlackpool South MP Gordon Marsden
Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden

But MPs have still opposed the idea.

Blackpool South MP Gordon Marsden said: “Records show I’ve always kept my MP’s expenses as modest as I can so I’m appalled how out of touch and lacking in common sense is this whole IPSA package of proposals, including those on pay.

“Given they’re not even planned to take effect until after 2015 they should – and I hope will be – opposed and changed.

“I’ve never sought this sort of pay increase – and to be discussing this IPSA package now is a massive, even obscene, distraction with the current economic situation and cost of living crisis hitting people across Blackpool every day.”

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IPSA was brought into place by all political parties in 2009, meaning they no longer had a say in setting their pay and pensions.

Eric Ollerenshaw, MP for Fleetwood, and Ben Wallace, MP for Wyre, have also expressed their dismay at the idea, while Paul Maynard, MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, yesterday told The Gazette he would give any pay rise to local community groups if it came in.

Fylde MP Mark Menzies added: “The Government made it clear in the consultation that IPSA should take into account the current situation with public sector pay freezes and pension restraints when addressing the issue of MPs’ salaries and it is disappointing IPSA has not done so.

“I know these recommendations are not final and there will be a further statutory review by IPSA after the election.

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“The Government will continue to make the case that IPSA should look at current public sector pay conditions and that the cost of politics should go down and not up in the current economic climate.”

Click here to read how The Gazette first reported the story: MP’S PLEDGE TO GIVE AWAY PAY RISE

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