MPs and their pay

A Dangerous Game

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) announced on 11 July that MPs pay should be raised from £66,000 up to £74,000. In short, the UK public didn't like it and at the same time, major MPs weren't so supportive either. 

The Enemy of my Enemy of my Independent

Popular opinion on the day of the announcement is that MPs don't need such a large pay raise, or some even contending no pay raise at all. Also that MPs were extremely greedy and had a hand in deciding the final numbers in this case.

The theory has some gaping holes, for example that IPSA was created as an independent watchdog to set the pay levels for Government officials after the expenses scandals in 2009. If a politician wanted to cheat to have more money, it wouldn't be through the agency that was created after the politicians cheated to have more money. They can do it the old fashioned way - selling themselves to business men/donors in exchange for favours in Westminster. 

No! You take the money!

Even worse for the 'greedy politican' theory is when the highest ranking members of two parties (Ed Miliband Labour and Nick Clegg Liberal-Democrat) refused to take the money given to them in the raise. This opens a whole new can of worms debating whether they are supported by their own means, or family - but that relationship is for another blog post.

Can't afford the problems

In reality the MPs aren't exactly out of the woods even if they agree to a lesser or no pay raise. Ipsos-Mori polls tells us that MPs have lower approval ratings than their unelected associates in the House of Lords. Staying with the pay freeze isn't going to make the approval barometers start a reversal, but taking some suggestions and not all wouldn't hurt confidence too much.

MP isn't my first title

The Guardian revealed at least 295 MPs claim some minimum pay from work outside of parliament or constituency. It's another part of the ongoing debate that should MPs only have their one position, and would raising pay make one job MPs more likely?

In the meantime, IPSA made recommendations but the government hasn't decided on how to act. Some MPs are voicing an opinion to stay away in order to keep up their reputation. 

Until a plan is in place, MPs and their pay are Cold Fish