Brown calls for MPs pay cap

Gordon Brown wants MP's pay-rises to be below inflation

Sunday, 06, Jan 2008 12:00

Gordon Brown has called for MPs to keep their annual pay rises under two per cent in order to keep them in line with public sector workers.

Speaking after the senior salaries pay board apparently recommended a 2.8 per cent pay increase for those at Westminster, the prime minister urged restraint.

His call comes as the government continues to face criticism for its below-inflation pay offers to other public sector workers, including police and nurses.

Mr Brown said MPs must show "exactly the same discipline that we ask of other people".

"It's up to MPs in the end to vote in the House of Commons but my recommendation is [...] government ministers must have a rate of pay increase that is below two per cent, 1.9 per cent," he told BBC's Andrew Marr show.

"My recommendation at the same time is that that is what goes for MPs.

"In fact, the recommendations for significant pay rises will be rejected and I think it's very important that we send a message to nurses, police and all those people in the public sector - it is very important in this year that we break the back of inflation."

He added that he would like to pay nurses and police more "but to get inflation down we have to stage public sector pay awards".

In an interview with the Observer today, Mr Brown said that 2008 would see a number of crucial decisions made for the future of the British economy.

And when asked about his outlook for the country's prospects this morning, the Labour leader echoed those views.

"This is a decisive year for the economy. We've got to take the right long-term choices this year," he said.

The Police Federation has threatened strike action after the government decided not to backdate officers' agreed pay-rise, effectively reducing it to 1.9 per cent.