16 January 2008

STAFFORD’S MP SAYS MPs’ PAY RISE SHOULD BE WITHIN INFLATION

Stafford’s Labour MP David Kidney says MPs should not receive an above inflation pay rise in a year when other public servants are being kept to lower settlements:

“With such uncertainty in the global economy, the Government has taken the tough decision to limit many public sector employees to pay rises at or below inflation. It would be wrong of MPs to exempt themselves from this discipline now.

“When I vote on Thursday next week for a modest pay increase for MPs, I will have in mind the comments that constituents who work in nursing, teaching and policing made to me about their pay increases. In solidarity with them, I will vote for pay restraint for MPs.

“If MPs do receive a below-inflation pay increase, it will be the sixth consecutive sub-inflation settlement. The purpose of the five-yearly reviews of MPs’ pay by the Senior Salaries Review Body is to advise on how MPs’ pay compares with other jobs of similar responsibility in the public sector.

“Arguably, there is nothing to compare with making decisions of such momentous impact as war or peace, but there has to be some system in place. There will be moves to give the final decision on MPs’ pay in future years to someone independent of Parliament. I will study any such proposal with interest.

“I think being an MP is the best job in our country. Yes the hours are long, for many of us we are apart from our families for much of the year and we do get a lot of stick from some parts of the public and the media. The responsibility is also a heavy one. I don’t say that MPs have to have high pay to reflect these factors, but any system for setting MPs’ pay does have to take them into account”.