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MLAs told to bin 16% pay increase
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Northern Ireland’s Assembly members are to be told they should receive a pay increase of around 3.5% — a sharp drop from the 16% suggested earlier this year.
An independent body is expected to recommend the lower-than-expected pay increase later this week.
But a UK-wide pressure group, the Taxpayers’ Alliance, insisted MLAs should not be accepting any pay rise but should be taking pay cuts in the current economic climate, following the example set by politicians in the Republic.
Today, the BBC reported an Assembly source who said the Senior Salaries Review Body report will be recommending a £500-a-year pay increase for MLAs, bringing them to around three-quarters of an MP’s salary.
It is also thought to be recommending a cut in the mileage rate paid to Assembly members for official travel and to have raised questions of the level of office cost allowances paid to double-jobbers — Assembly members who are also MPs.
At the start of the year an internal Assembly document predicted that MLAs would receive a pay rise of 16% to bring them into line with their counterparts in Britain — a figure that has since provoked anger among taxpayers as the credit crunch begins to grip.
Taxpayers’ Alliance director Mark Wallace said: “I’m glad the outrageous suggestion of 16% pay rise has been consigned to the dustbin of history. But in the middle of a recession MLAs should not be taking any pay rise at all.
“I would point to the example of the president and ministers south of the border who took a 10% pay cut to set a good example to the rest of the public sector and to express their sympathy with the ordinary people who are struggling to make ends meet.
“MLAs are already generously provided for by taxpayers and people simply don’t have the money to pay them any more.”
A Telegraph opinion poll earlier this year found a 69% opposition to a 16% increase.
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Do these people have a conscience? What was mc guiness earning the last 35 years, and where did it come from!!
Posted by maurice | 03.12.08, 14:58 GMT
why should these clowns be getting paid at all? let alone debating how much of a RAISE they are getting? Considering they didnt meet for over 100 days we should be asking some serious questions on their current salaries.
Posted by John McD | 03.12.08, 14:50 GMT
Ladies and Gentlemen
These vacuous parasites should have their salaries cut-they do not even bother to attend the Chamber for important statements.
Secondly why do we subsidise their restaurants-excellent food and probably the best value in town!
Tally Ho!
Darcy Dancer
Posted by Darcy Dancer | 03.12.08, 12:34 GMT
so while they don't want to sanction a higher than inflation pay rise for public sector workers they expected to claim a 16% rise for themselves....nice work if you can get it!
Posted by RB | 03.12.08, 12:23 GMT
How can they justify that sort of increase? I work in the Education Sector as a Member of Support Staff in a school and we have been offered 2.45%, which is slightly less than last year, and most of us work 52 weeks of the year!
Posted by Robotech | 03.12.08, 12:12 GMT
i bet stormont will be packed to vote for the pay rise
Posted by p mcconville | 03.12.08, 11:43 GMT
MLA's currently earn £43,000. According to my calculations a 3.5% increase raises this by £1,505 per year not £500 as stated above.
Posted by Mary, Derry | 03.12.08, 11:29 GMT
I believe the First Minister recently spoke to the Institute of Charetered Accountants and two of his themes were public sector sick leave and the need for 'efficiency savings'. Quite right too. When what passes for the Government of Northern Ireland takes six months off due to lower back pain (couldnt be bothered doing what theyre paid for) something needs to be done . Similarly paying two office allowances for one job (on a good day!) is hardly efficient. But then again, we deserve the politicians we vote for. Dont give power to those who want it, cos you can be sure they dont want it for your benefit!
Posted by Plato | 03.12.08, 11:29 GMT
What are they actually getting any level of pay increase for doing?
Posted by The Plum | 03.12.08, 11:23 GMT
I totally agree! I think I work much harder than them all put together and didnt get months off during the summer - and I only got 3% annual increase! So why should they get 16%!!
Posted by Moonie | 03.12.08, 10:29 GMT