Lone MP says 'no' to that pounds 9,000 pay rise
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Only one MP has so far told the Commons authorities that he, or she, wants to restrict their pay rise to 3 per cent, even though 170 MPs voted for that degree of restraint last week.
A spokesman for the House of Commons Fees Office said yesterday that MPs had until the end of this week to limit their increase for this month's salary payment. After that, it was likely that any voluntary cuts would come out of next month's.
Under the terms of the Commons resolution passed on MPs' pay, the backbench salary goes up from pounds 34,085 to pounds 43,000, backdated to 1 July - an increase of 26 per cent, or pounds 445.95 a month after tax at 40p in the pound.
Chris Mullin, the Labour MP who was barracked in the debate when he called for restraint, said yesterday he would take a 3 per cent rise - just over pounds 1,000 a year - and give away the rest of the pounds 8,915 gross increase. "I have had for some years a donations account, so for anything over 3 per cent I will transfer it into that account and give it away," he said. " If I were to leave it with the Treasury, it would only be given away in tax cuts to Tory voters."
As announced last week, Tony Blair, the Labour leader, is also exercising self-restraint after last week's vote, when he endorsed the Prime Minister's call for ministers and others to set an example.
John Major's idea of public example does not extend to telling the public what he is going to do with the pounds 17,340 increase he is due in his parliamentary salary from the start of this month. The Prime Minister's office said that was "a private matter".
All ministers will get that increase, which comes from the rise in the parliamentary element of their pay from an abated level of pounds 25,660 to the full backbench rate of pounds 43,000, unless they instruct the Treasury to withhold the full amount.
The pace-setting - and public - example being set by Mr Blair could help them to make up their minds. He has decided that he will take 3 per cent of his overall salary of pounds 65,992, which comprised pounds 25,660 parliamentary salary and pounds 40,332 salary as Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition. That means he will take an increase of just under pounds 2,000, and leave more than pounds 15,000 with the Treasury.
If Mr Major took a 3 per cent rise on his overall salary of pounds 84,217, he would get an increase of just over pounds 2,500.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments