What North East MPs think about MPs £2,000 pay rise

The basic salary for MPs is set to increase by £2,200 after the independent watchdog decided to upgrade their annual earnings.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has announced that the annual adjustment to MPs’ basic pay for 2022 – 23 will be 2.7 per cent.

This would be the same as the average increase in pay for public sector employees last year.

Chair of IPSA, Richard Lloyd, said that it was “right” that MPs are “paid fairly,” particularly with their work “dramatically” increasing in the past 12 months.

However, one North East Tory MP said that he did not agree with the increase and would most likely donate the extra money to charity.

A spokesperson for Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, said: “Kevin is against the pay increase and if there is a mechanism to reject it, he will.

Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake

“If the increase is applied automatically, Kevin regularly donates to charity and will factor this increase in when making donations in the coming financial year.”

However, other North East MPs declined to comment on the increase.

Peter Gibson, MP for Darlington, said it was “right that MPs do not influence or control the process” of IPSA.

MP For Darlington Peter Gibson (Image: Contributor)

He said: “Over 11 years ago the appalling expenses scandal led to MPs' salaries and business costs being handed over to an entirely independent body.

“It is right that MPs do not influence or control that process.”

MP for Stockton North Alex Cunningham also declined to comment on the pay rise.

MP for Stockton North Alex Cunningham (Image: LDR)

IPSA said the decision was “in line” with its previous ruling in 2015 to adjust MPs’ pay at the same rate as changes in public sector earnings published by the Office of National Statistics.

Richard Lloyd stressed that this was the “first increase in pay for MPs in two years.”

He added: “MPs play a vital role in our democracy and this is reflected in their pay.

“It is right that MPs are paid fairly for the responsibility and the unseen work they do helping their constituents, which dramatically increased last year.

“For Parliament to reflect society, it is vital that people from all walks of life can be an MP.”

Mary Foy, MP for the City of Durham, aims to provide a comment later in the week, and we are also awaiting a comment from Andy McDonald, MP for Middlesbrough.

The Northern Echo has also approached MP Kevan Jones, MP Jacob Young and MP Dehenna Davison.

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