The Conservative MP Steve Baker has made it clear that he feels it would be an “ugly look” if politicians were to receive their proposed £3,300 salary increase amid talks of a proposed public sector pay freeze. The MP for High Wycombe has stated that MP’s in Westminster should “certainly” take a pay freeze as reports are suggesting that the Chancellor is set to freeze public sector wages in his spending plans that will be set out in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The trade unions have reacted to the news of this with the threat of a public sector strike if Rishi Sunak makes the move to bolster public finances after a huge rise in spending to fight coronavirus. Those affected by the freeze would likely be those who were considered key workers earlier in the year such as the police, teachers, armed forces and civil servants.
Steve Baker told LBC this morning “I’ve already said on Twitter that MPs should certainly have a pay freeze, even if it means legislating to take from IPSA their independence on these matters”. He went on to say that he is “sick” of the MPs’ expenses situation “being mischaracterised”. He explained this feeling when he said: “I have never had a slap-up dinner at taxpayer expense other than the extent to which I am paid by the taxpayer. I am really parsimonious in my use of expenses, it’s not normally expenses in the expense people would consider them, it’s things like employing staff and staff having reasonable costs. Some of the things people believe about our expenses are simply untrue”.
The Prime Ministers spokesman has offered his thoughts on MP’s potential pay rise. His spokesperson has released a statement that said: ‘Given the circumstances, the PM doesn’t believe that MPs should be receiving a pay rise’.
When asked whether the government could legislate to prevent an increase, the spokesman said: ‘That will be a question for when Ipsa set out what their final agreed position is on MPs’ pay rises’.
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Current Affairs Correspondent | My name is Oliver Down I am 22, and a staunch brexiteer. I am a Bristolian lad who studied politics in Leicester. I believe in free speech and accurate journalism and I won’t be afraid to give you “the other side” of the story!
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