Burnley MP calls for 'inappropriate' pay rise plans to be scrapped

Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham has demanded that controversial plans to give MPs a pay rise be scrapped.

By John Deehan

24th Nov 2020, 5:13pm - 1 min read

Updated 24th Nov 2020, 5:16pm

Antony Higginbotham has come out against plans to give MPs a 3% pay rise

Mr Higginbotham, along with more than 50 other colleagues, has written to the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority – the body who decides MPs' pay – calling on them to scrap the idea of a 3% increase.

He said that with so many constituents facing uncertainty at this time, a pay increase for MPs was not appropriate.

Part of the letter reads: "At such as time, where the Government may be asking for restraint elsewhere, we believe that is neither appropriate nor justifiable to be awarding MPs pay rises.

"It is only right that we should shoulder the burden. As such, we sincerely hope that you will take current circumstances into account and scrap the proposed pay rise for Members of Parliament."