I do not approve of extra pay for MPs

THERE has been much talk recently about the government refusing to agree to a one per cent pay rise for NHS workers.

In September, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) recommended a nine per cent pay rise for MPs. Its chief executive said MPs do an important job and should not be paid a ‘miserly amount’.

He recommended their pay should go up from £67,000 a year to £74,000 a year.

Most people find the idea of MPs getting a nine per cent pay rise to be totally outrageous, especially considering the government is refusing to allow NHS staff to have a one per cent rise, despite a recommendation by an independent pay review board.

I support NHS staff ’s claim for a one per cent rise, and if I am elected as MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, I will not accept any pay rise.

I would donate the extra £7,000 a year to a local charity for the full term of the next government.

I expect the people of Uxbridge and South Ruislip would like to know if the Conservative candidate, Boris Johnson, is willing to join me in waiving this pay rise and donating it to charity.

Considering an MP’s salary would also come on top of the £143,911 he gets as his salary as Mayor of London, and also significant income as a book author, a newspaper columnist and a TV presenter, I would have thought he could afford to go without this £7,000.

IPSA’s final report is expected after the election in May but the people of Uxbridge and South Ruislip can rest assured that whatever the pay rise given to MPs, I will not accept one penny but will donate the extra money every year to a deserving charity.

CHRIS SUMMERS Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for Uxbridge and

South Ruislip Address supplied