MPs agree to freeze their salaries at £65,738

MPs have agreed to freeze their salaries at £65,738 to put them in step with two-year pay freezes across the public sector.

The Senior Salaries Review Body, whose recommendations have been implemented since 2008, had suggested a 1% rise.

However, MPs pay will be frozen, for the period beginning 1 April 2011, and ending on the 'relevant day', which means the day before the day on which the first determination of MPs’ salaries by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority comes into effect, or 31 March 2013, whichever is earlier.

During a House of Commons debate, David Heath, MP for Somerton and Frome, said: “The review body had made it plain it would not have made the recommendation that it did unless it was constrained to do so. It would have independently come to a view there should be no increase in our pay this year.

“I find it difficult to believe any member of the House thinks we should be treated any differently and significantly better than others working in the public sector.”

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