MPs demand pay rise in lieu of cut expenses

MPs are campaigning to have their salaries increased in light of expenses cuts

12 April 2012

Nearly 40 MPs today backed a campaign for their pay to rise and warned against huge cuts to their expenses.

They stressed that reforms of Commons allowances should not breach "natural justice" or be retrospective.

Many MPs are furious at a proposed ban on employing family members and claiming mortgage interest payments on second homes.

Some hope the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority will water down proposals intended to end the expenses scandal by Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Sir Christopher and parliamentarystandards authority chairman Sir Ian Kennedy issued a statement saying the IPSA had a "lot of work to do", although the latter was said to be "content" with assurances he received.

Some 37 MPs, including senior backbenchers Frank Field, Frank Dobson and Sir Nicholas Winterton, signed a Commons motion calling for the Government and Parliament not to block a pay rise recommended by an independent body. They said of Sir Ian: "We hope he carries out his duties in line with natural justice."