In case you haven't heard, the economy is in trouble

There's a rumour going around that there is a UK, indeed a world recession, with job losses, business closures and food poverty, yet some of our MPs don't seem to have received this news.

A salary of £65,738, plus extras, doesn't appear to satisfy some of our MPs, because, if the anonymous survey (Leicester Mercury, January 12) completed by 100 MPs is anything to go by, it would seem a pay increase is needed urgently.

Is this result based on basic needs, or pure greed?

It seems our MPs could earn far more for less work in the private sector, assuming there are placements available.

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Most people are being told "we are all in this together", yet some at higher levels seem to ignore this fact.

I would have thought the recent saga about expenses claims was enough, but, alas, this seems to have been forgotten.

Politicians from all walks of life seem to insist their role, with its long hours and "low pay", was forced upon them, with some saying they need to provide a subsidy to stay in the role.

One Leicester city councillor strongly suggested this to me, but he was rejected by the voters when he thought a ward change would better his prospects.

The electorate voted with their feet, something those wanting to hold on to power should perhaps consider before they commence complaining.

In the Mercury report, we learned Andrew Bridgen MP was paid £7.773 every month for six hours' work as a non-executive chairman of his vegetable processing firm.

I wonder how many people are having to survive on that figure or less, not for one month only but possibly 12?

I also wonder how many politicians will be voting for increases for those less fortunate, if they are given the opportunity. At present, all I hear about is lack of funding, resources, cutbacks and all the rest, but I see wastage and greed increasing among those who should set an example.

Richard Murphy, Leicester.

What a sad country England is these days, in so many ways.

We have no moral leadership whatsoever.

In the years to come we will not be a Christian country and the people at the top have no plans whatever to do anything about it.

MPs are talking about a substantial salary increase, but for them to raise the subject is simply mind-boggling in these days of cutbacks and reductions.

Unfortunately, it appears you have to be over the age of about 50 to know what I am talking about.

Peter Westerman Leicester.

So, with increases in benefits and public pay limited to 1 per cent for the next three years, we see our MPs demanding a pay increase of 32 per cent. This would take their basic salary from £65,000, which they say they cannot live on, to £86,250 a year.

Is it fair they should seek an increase of 32 per cent, or should they, as they work in the public sector, be limited to 1 per cent in line with everyone else? People limited to a 1 per cent increase will still have to, with food, gas and electricity increasing on a regular basis.

More than half our MPs want to save their "golden goodbye" payments and the majority of MPs have other jobs.

Kevin Fletcher, Coalville.