A senior member of the British parliament has warned that a proposed increase in MPsâ„¢ salary to more than £70,000 will further defame them at the eyes of the public.
Backbencher, Adam Afriyie harshly criticized the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa)â„¢s decision for proposing the sum, stressing that the increase in pay would also be a Å“sticking plaster for much deeper wound”.
The Windsor MP, who is preparing to challenge the Tory leadership, is leading calls for a major overhaul of Ipsa which he has branded a Å“bureaucratic mess ripe for restructuring”.
Afriyie said the so-called body is giving subsidies to nine out of ten MPs by paying for their travel, accommodation, subsistence or office expenses out of their own pocket.
Å“Ipsaâ„¢s proposed increase in MPsâ„¢ salary is another example of how it continues to undermine the standing of Parliament whilst haemorrhaging taxpayersâ„¢ money on unnecessary backroom bureaucracy,” Afriyie wrote on The Spectator website.
Å“Giving MPs a raise in their pay packet is not only a short-term sticking plaster for much deeper wound, but it vilifies MPs when the real elephant in the room is Ipsa itself”, he said.
This is while that, MPs remain divided over whether they should accept an increase in their salary of £66,396-a-year.
Å“Like most people Iâ„¢m astounded at the thought MPs could get a pay rise, particularly at a time when most civil servants are having their pay capped at one percent,” said Paul Maynard, Conservative MP Blackpool North and Cleveleys.
Other MPs, who believe they are underpaid, stress the independence of Ipsa and say they will accept its recommendations. This comes as challenging Ipsaâ„¢s proposed rise is also challengeable in court due to its independence.
MOL/HE
Republished with permission from:: Press TV