MEMBERS of Parliament from both sides of the House in Bromsgrove and Northfield have criticised plans for their roles to receive a ten per cent pay rise.
Conservative member Sajid Javid and Labour MP Richard Burden have reacted with disgust to the proposals, which would see pay soar from the current rate of £67,000 to £74,000 but Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) bosses this week confirmed they were still implementing the plans.
Mr Javid “While public sector workers in Bromsgrove are receiving a one per cent pay rise it does not seem right for MPs to receive a significant pay rise.These recommendations on MPs’ pay are not final.
“There will be a further statutory review by IPSA after the General Election.
“During this time the Government will continue to make the case that IPSA should take into account overall public sector pay and pensions restraint.”
Mr Burden added: “I think it is important we stick to the principle that MPs should not decide our own pay levels and that these issues should be decided independently.
“However, personally I don’t believe that IPSA should have recommended a pay rise for MPs when people across the country are currently facing the biggest cost of living crisis in a generation.
“When people are feeling the pinch in the way local people are feeling it right now, and when public sector pay rises are capped at one per cent, it’s not the right time for a pay rise.
“As IPSA are not intending to implement their decision until 2015, however, there is still time to review it before it comes into effect.”
