Braintree district: Is £65k too low for MPs' pay (From Braintree and Witham Times)
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Braintree district: Is £65k too low for MPs' pay
11:00am Saturday 19th January 2013 in News
Braintree district: Is £65k too low for MPs' pay
The district’s MPs refused to say if they feel underpaid after a survey found more than two thirds of politicians want a £21,000 rise.
An anonymous survey for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) found 69 per cent of politicians believe their basic wage should jump from £65,738 to £86,250.
The national average salary is £23,000.
The figures were released as part of the watchdog’s first report into MPs pay and pensions, which was published on Thursday. **10jan*** Witham MP Priti Patel refused to answer questions relating to her pay and pension and instead referred The Times back to IPSA.
Braintree MP Brooks Newmark answered all the questions put to him.
Speaking about the salary and whether he agreed with the view MPs are underpaid he said: “My view is that MPs pay should be determined by an independent body and whatever that body decides should be the rate MPs are paid.”
