The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) unveiled the plans to increase the pay for the 650 MPs today. Under the new guidelines, MPs could have their salaries raised by £3,000 from their current £79,468 pay. Due to that, Express.co.uk asked readers today, “Should Westminster MPs be handed a £3,360 pay rise during coronavirus crisis?”
In response, 4,508 out of 4,587 insisted MPs should not be given a pay rise.
Just 69 agreed they should, while 10 were not sure.
Commenting on the poll, one person said: “I think it is frankly insulting.”
A second said: “Absolutely not especially under the circumstances.
“If anything MPs should lead by example and take a pay cut of £3,360 to show we are all in it together.”
A third said: “Nurses no pay rise, pensioners forced to pay BBC for terrible service, people losing jobs and universal credit a joke.
“This lot want a pay rise for a job badly done.”
A fourth said: “Why should they get a pay rise, they have done little or nothing this year.
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Some MPs, however, have spoken of their unease over the potential pay rise considering the economic uncertainty surrounding the country.
Labour MP for Tooting, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan said she would either refuse the pay rise or give it to charity.
She said: “This isn’t right. Millions face job uncertainty and to give us MPs a pay rise now just sends the wrong message and highlights the economic divide in our country.”
MP for Bishop Auckland, Dehenna Davison, also hit out at the proposal.
Not only did she criticise the possible rise but highlighted the pay rise is not determined by MPs but by IPSA itself.
She said: “This is literally the first I’ve heard of this and I think it’s a bloody stupid decision.
“But here’s my regular reminder that we as MPs do not decide how much we get paid.
“It’s decided by an independent body – and I think they should have better judgement.”
This poll opened at 12.56pm and closed at 9.50pm on October 9.
