£1,300 rise for MPs
MPs are set to receive a 1.8% pay rise in April 2018, taking their basic salary to £77,379 a year.
The increase is set automatically in line with the annual change in average weekly earnings across the public sector in October.
MPs enjoyed a 1.4% rise in their basic salary in 2017 to the current £76,011 and a 1.3% rise in 2016.
If the latest increase is confirmed, their salary will have risen by a total of 17.7% since the introduction of the Government’s austerity programme in 2010. MPs have “taken back control” of the process and inflicted a humiliating House of Commons defeat on Theresa May with the help of around a dozen Tory rebels.
In a damaging blow to her already diminished authority, Tory rebels rallied around ringleader Dominic Grieve to back his attempt to ensure MPs have a “meaningful vote” on the withdrawal deal.
A dramatic last-minute concession by justice minister Dominic Raab was dismissed as “too late” by Mr Grieve, whose amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill squeezed through the Commons on a majority of four amid tense scenes in the chamber.
Tory Remainer Nicky Morgan tweeted “Tonight Parliament took control of the EU Withdrawal process”, while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn described the defeat as “a humiliating loss of authority” for Mrs May.
Amid intense scenes in the Commons as the division was called, would-be rebel Vicky Ford appeared to be wavering between division lobbies before being ushered towards the Government side by Chancellor Philip Hammond and Brexiteer MP James Cleverly.
She had asked Mr Raab to outline his concession, who told her he was making it The vote is a major setback for the PM “crystal clear” that there would be a “meaningful vote” before the withdrawal deal was put into UK law.
As Mrs May prepared to travel to a Brussels summit today where European Union leaders are expected to rubber-stamp Brexit negotiations moving on to trade, Mr Corbyn said: “This defeat is a humiliating loss of authority for the Government on the eve of the European Council meeting.
“Labour has made the case since the referendum for a meaningful vote in Parliament on the terms of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union. Theresa May has resisted democratic accountability. Her refusal to listen means she will now have to accept Parliament taking back control.”
A Government spokeswoman said: “We are disappointed that Parliament has voted for this amendment despite the strong assurances that we have set out.
“We are as clear as ever that this Bill, and the powers within it, are essential.
“This amendment does not prevent us from preparing our statute book for exit day. We will now determine whether further changes are needed to the Bill to ensure it fulfils its vital purpose.”
There were 11 Tory rebels in total, according to the official Commons list.
Prominent Tory rebel Anna Soubry repeatedly shouted “too late” as Mr Raab outlined his concession.
Ms Soubry said: “Nobody takes any pleasure and certainly I don’t when the Government loses a vote, these are important things.
“The truth is Parliament has been excluded from the whole of the Brexit process and now we’re back in the frame and that means we can represent all our voters.”