Labour brands MP 'out of touch' following comments on salaries
Labour has accused Andrew Bridgen of being out of touch with his constituents after the Tory made controversial comments about MPs' salaries.
Mr Bridgen, who represents North West Leicestershire, last week gave a radio interview after a report revealed MPs felt they should be paid more than their basic salary of £65,738.
He told the BBC's PM programme that many of his colleagues had taken pay cuts and left successful careers to serve in Parliament.
Mr Bridgen, who is also paid £7,773 every month for six hours of work as non-executive chairman of his vegetable processing firm, AB Produce, said on the radio: "A man or woman who is very capable and doing well in their profession, with a family – are they going to be willing to take that pay cut and look their child in the eye when it's Christmas and (say) you can't have what you normally have because mummy or daddy wants to be an MP?"
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Measham councillor and chairman of North West Leicestershire Labour Party Tom Neilson said: "Only someone who has no idea what it is like on the bread line could have made the ridiculous comments he did on the PM Programme last week."
Mr Bridgen told the Mercury he was one of the few MPs to talk publicly and honestly about MPs' pay and said Labour MPs had also wanted a raise, according to a survey by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority.
He said: "I would like to state I do not feel it would be appropriate to increase MPs' pay at the present time. In the long term, however, I can foresee issues with the diversity of people looking to stand as a Member of Parliament if the issue of pay is not looked at.
"I knew what I was signing up for and have no complaints about the salary."
Comments
by TheOverlord
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 1:52PM
“Look at this another way,
Bridgen doesn't need the cash for being an MP so why does he take it? public service? i don't think so.
Also, any company that can shell out the best part of 8k per month for effectively no work must be making money hand over fist and the goods they sell must be over priced!
Just another example of the rich getting richer, at any cost.
From the comments he has made he is clearly an oaf not fit for public or any other office.
Go in (Veg free) Peace my people.”
by Bob491
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 11:27AM
“In the light of the almost 20% reduction in starting salaries for the police, perhaps new MPs and new Government Ministers will also suffer a 20% reduction in their pay for their first five years in the job.
And I am still awaiting an announcement that Bridgen will donate his incredibly greedy £7,773 every month for a mere six hours of moonlighting work to a worthwhile charity.”
by Graham_LE8
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 10:52AM
“In fairness the poll that was conducted prompting the sample of MP's to retort that their current pay was insufficient was 'loaded' - would any of us reply that we were paid too much if asked the same question?, I doubt it.
However, although the comment by Mr Bridgen regarding some MP's leaving successful careers and taking pay cuts may be true in some cases, it doesn't mitigate the fact that standing for Parliament would be a largely voluntary move and the financial impact on the prospective MP's income known in advance.
And let's face it, if an MP's role was as time consuming as they declare it is, a cursory view of the register of members interests would seem to disprove that circumstance, as many seem to fit in plenty of other paid responsibilities, including Mr Bridgen...”
by davieG
Wednesday, January 16 2013, 9:47AM
“Lots of people take jobs because they give them a satisfaction that cannot be gained from monetary reward but they know that when they apply just like MPs.
It's about time politicians at all levels and all colours took their greedy noses out of the trough and took al look at what a poor state this Country is in as a result of years of incompetent local and national governments.”