Hull MP to vote against above inflation pay hike for MPs

Hull North MP Diana Johnson today announced that she will vote against an above inflation pay increase for MPs when the issue is decided in the Commons.

MPs will vote tomorrow (24 January) on the recent report from The Review Body on Senior Salaries (SSRB) that recommends a 2.56 per cent pay award for MPs backdated to April 2007.

The Hull North MP will instead vote for a staged increase that would be worth 1.9 per cent for the year slightly below the current rate of inflation and in line with the general Government target for public sector pay.

Diana Johnson MP said: "When the Government is seeking tough limits in public sector pay in order to counter inflation, I believe that MPs should show leadership, discipline and consistency and reject an above inflation increase for ourselves.

"This is not the time to be making arguments about the independence of the SSRB report or about MPs' pay falling behind when we are rejecting such arguments in the case of police officers and others.

"Personally, I believe that the salary and pension package that MPs get is fair by most standards, without the need for MPs to earn additional money elsewhere as some do. Being a constituency MP is or should be - more than a full-time job.

"There are parts of the SSRB report that I support, such as the section on the resources available to help MPs provide a good service to constituents and to be decent modern employers.

"On the issue of pay, I also welcome any moves that would mean MPs not voting on our own pay in future."

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