MPs’ pay rise: “What example do politicians set?”

POLICE officers have hit out at the news MP’s pay is to rise by more than 11 per cent to £74,000 by May 2015.

Neil Bowles, chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “What example does it set to the rest of the public sector? My message would be to refuse it, otherwise they risk losing their legitimacy to govern.”

Sir Ian Kennedy – the man behind the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) – said MPs are playing “catch-up” when it comes to their salary.

He said these changes are about bringing MPs’ pay to where it should be.

Mr Bowles added: “The whole of the public sector has been squeezed with their pay, both being frozen and actual pay cuts. This is made worse when inflation, increases in pension contributions and changes to the tax/benefit system are all taken into account. MPs receiving an inflation busting 11 per cent pay rise is totally hypocritical.”

IPSA also announced that MPs’ pensions are over generous and should be brought into line with others in the public sector.

Jon Christopher, chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “I am sure that every police officer in this country would welcome an 11 per cent pay rise to soften the bludgeoning they have received with their pensions.

“Clearly we are not all in this together and I would urge all MPs to deeply consider their stance on the proposed pay rise and understand public opinion and not to hide behind the independence of this report. It is a sham.”

MPs are currently paid £66,396, but that is due to rise to £67,060 in April 2014 and rise by a further 1 per cent the following year.

The recommendation amounts to a rise of around £6,300 a year, or 9.3 per cent, on what MPs would be getting in 2015.

Sir Ian also said “Golden Goodbyes”, which see MPs get a year’s salary when they leave parliament, is too generous.

The watchdog is to consult on the rise but in theory MPs cannot block it because they handed control of the decision to the independent body in the wake of the 2009 expenses scandal.

Steve Williams, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “Given the government has presided over a programme of cuts that has seen the starting salary of police officers cut to £19,000, their pay frozen and pensions slashed, not to mention similar cuts throughout the rest of the public sector, we would suggest MPs may wish to give serious consideration to whether they choose to keep the additional money it is proposed they will be paid.”