Email
David Cameron has called for restraint on MPs' pay amid rumours they are in line for a bumper rise.
The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) is reported to be looking at an increase of around £7,500 or 15% which would take salaries to £75,000.
But the Prime Minister has insisted making Westminster more expensive to the taxpayer would be "unthinkable".
"Whatever Ipsa recommends, we can't see the cost of politics or Westminster going up. We should see the cost of Westminster go down," he said.
"Anything would be unthinkable unless the cost of politics was frozen and cut, so I'll wait and see what Ipsa have to say. What I said to Ipsa was that restraint is necessary."
Ipsa is due to announce the findings of a fundamental review into pay and perks later this month, although the main changes will not take effect until after the next general election.
David Cameron wants costs to go down
A survey released by the watchdog earlier this year found most MPs wanted to be paid £86,000, although some demanded more than £100,000.
Even the smaller rise of £7,500 would take their salaries to almost three times the national average of £26,500 and is likely to provoke public anger.
Taxpayers' salaries have risen by just 0.6% on average this year and many are struggling to cope with the rise in the cost of living.
The coalition has also enforced a major squeeze on public sector pay, with salary freezes and new measures in the Spending Review to scrap automatic rises.
Some argue that a significant increase is necessary to compensate for the clampdown on second-home expenses and to attract top quality people into Parliament.
But party leaders fear any such move would play very badly with the public, who are being hit by drastic austerity measures and meagre pay rises.
Matthew Sinclair, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "MPs are already very well paid both in terms of European politicians and the average salary in this country.
"It would be particularly egregious for politicians to be handed a whopping great pay rise while hard-pressed taxpayers tighten their own belts.
......................................................................................................................................................................................................... .................Im a 76 year old Nutcase.. TOMMY LOVES YOU ALL. .. I'm a committed atheist.
