In 2009 all parties agreed to set up IPSA, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, in order that MPs would no longer have any say in setting up their pay and pensions.
Over recent months IPSA has been conducting enquiries into MPs pay and has recommended that MPs receive an 11% pay increase following the 2015 General Election.
During IPSA’s consultation the Government made it clear that they should take into account overall public service pay and pensions restraint when addressing the issue of MPs’ pay. That is why the recent announcement regarding the recommendation for a rise is very disappointing. However, these recommendations are not final and there will be a further statutory review by IPSA after the election.
The Government will continue to make the case that IPSA should take into account overall public sector pay and pensions restraint, and that the cost of politics should go down and not up.
This Government has worked hard to tackle the huge economic mess left by the last administration and, although our economy is firmly on the road to recovery, many hard working people in this country are still finding life difficult and have seen their pay frozen in recent years.
That is why it is unacceptable for IPSA to recommend increasing MP’s salaries at this time and why I do not support the recommendations.